Risen from the Ranks | Page 4

found the door of a small but comfortable bed-room. There was no carpet on the floor, but it was painted yellow, and scrupulously clean. A bed, two chairs, a bureau and wash-stand completed the list of furniture.
"I shall like this room very well," said our hero.
"There is a closet," said the lady, pointing to a door in the corner. "It is large enough to contain your trunk, if you choose to put it in there. I hope you don't smoke."
"Oh, no, indeed," said Harry, laughing. "I haven't got so far along as that."
"Mr. Anderson's last apprentice--he is a journeyman now--was a smoker. He not only scented up the room, but as he was very careless about lights, I was continually alarmed lest he should set the house on fire. Finally, I got so nervous that I asked him to board somewhere else."
"Is he working for Mr. Anderson now?"
"Yes; you probably saw him in the office."
"I saw two young men at the case."
"The one I speak of is the youngest. His name is John Clapp."
"There is no danger of my smoking. I don't think it would do me any good. Besides, it is expensive, and I can't afford it."
"I see we think alike," said Mrs. Anderson, smiling. "I am sure we will get along well together."
"I shall try not to give you any trouble," said our hero, and his tone, which was evidently sincere, impressed Mrs. Anderson still more favorably.
"You won't find me very hard to suit, I hope. I suppose you will be here to supper?"
"If it will he quite convenient. My trunk is at the tavern, and I could stay there till morning, if you wished."
"Oh, no, come at once. Take possession of the room now, if you like, and leave an order to have your trunk brought here."
"Thank you. What is your hour for supper?"
"Half-past five."
"Thank you. I will go over and speak to Mr. Anderson a minute."
The editor looked up as Harry reappeared.
"Well, have you settled arrangements with Mrs. Anderson?" he asked.
"Yes, sir, I believe so."
"I hope you like your room."
"It is very comfortable. It won't take me long to feel at home there."
"Did she ask you whether you smoked?"
"Yes, sir."
"I thought she would. That's where Clapp and she fell out."
Harry's attention was drawn to a thin, sallow young man of about twenty, who stood at a case on the opposite side of the room.
"Mrs. Anderson was afraid I would set the house on fire," said the young man thus referred to.
"Yes, she felt nervous about it. However, it is not surprising. An uncle of hers lost his house in that way. I suppose you don't smoke, Walton?"
"No, sir."
"Clapp smokes for his health. You see how stout and robust he is," said the editor, a little satirically.
"It doesn't do me any harm," said Clapp, a little testily.
"Oh, well, I don't interfere with you, though I think you would be better off if you should give up the habit. Ferguson don't smoke."
This was the other compositor, a man of thirty, whose case was not far distant from Clapp's.
"I can't afford it," said Ferguson; "nor could Clapp, if he had a wife and two young children to support."
"Smoking doesn't cost much," said the younger journeyman.
"So you think; but did you ever reckon it up?"
"No."
"Don't you keep any accounts?"
"No; I spend when I need to, and I can always tell how much I have left. What's the use of keeping accounts?"
"You can tell how you stand."
"I can tell that without taking so much trouble."
"You see we must all agree to disagree," said Mr. Anderson. "I am afraid Clapp isn't going to be a second Benjamin Franklin."
"Who is?" asked Clapp.
"Our young friend here," said the editor.
"Oh, is he?" queried the other with a sneer. "It'll be a great honor I'm sure, to have him in the office."
"Come, no chaffing, Clapp," said Mr. Anderson.
Harry hastened to disclaim the charge, for Clapp's sneer affected him disagreeably.
"I admire Franklin," he said, "but there isn't much danger of my turning out a second edition of him."
"Professional already, I see, Walton," said the editor.
"When shall I go to work, Mr. Anderson?"
"Whenever you are ready."
"I am ready now."
"You are prompt."
"You won't be in such a hurry to go to work a week hence," said Clapp.
"I think I shall," said Harry. "I am anxious to learn as fast as possible."
"Oh, I forgot. You want to become a second Franklin."
"I sha'n't like him," thought our hero. "He seems to try to make himself disagreeable."
"Mr. Ferguson will give you some instruction, and set you to work," said his employer.
Harry was glad that it was from the older journeyman that he was to receive his first lesson, and not from the younger.
CHAPTER III.
HARRY STUMBLES UPON AN ACQUAINTANCE.
After supper Harry went round to the tavern to see about his trunk. A group