| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 1 | 51 | 103 | 154 | 205 |
|
www.freeclassicebooks.com
He had decided to wait until after lunch before calling at the newspaper office for
replies to his advertisement, but during breakfast it occurred to him there
probably would be several alert prospective employers who would despatch their
replies by special messengers, and realizing that promptness was one of the
cardinal virtues in the business world, Jimmy reasoned that it would make a
favorable impression were he to present himself as soon as possible after the
receipt of replies.
By a simple system of reasoning he deduced that ten o'clock would be none too
early to expect some returns from his ad, and therefore at ten promptly he
presented himself at the Want Ad Department in the Tribune office.
Comparing the number of the receipt which Jimmy handed him with the
numbers upon a file of little pigeonholes, the clerk presently turned back toward
the counter with a handful of letters.
"
Whew!" thought Jimmy. "I never would have guessed that I would receive a
bunch like that so early in the morning." But then, as he saw the clerk running
through them one by one, he realized that they were not all for him, and as the
young man ran through them Jimmy's spirits dropped a notch with each letter
that was passed over without being thrown out to him, until, when the last letter
had passed beneath the scrutiny of the clerk, and the advertiser realized that he
had received no replies, he was quite sure that there was some error.
"Nothing," said the clerk, shaking his head negatively.
"Are you sure you looked in the right compartment?" asked Jimmy.
"Sure," replied the clerk. "There is nothing for you."
2
4
Page
Quick Jump
|