“No; I won’t tell him. I want you to stay here.”
Tony was assigned to a room in the attic. There were two beds in this chamber, one being occupied by James. He slept soundly, and was up betimes in the morning. After breakfast Mr. Bickford, the tin peddler, made ready to start.
“Good-by, Tony,” he said, in a friendly manner, “I’m glad you’ve got a place.”
“I wouldn’t have got it if I hadn’t you to refer to.”
“The landlord didn’t ask how long I’d known you,” said Bickford, smiling. “Good luck to you.”
As the peddler drove away, Tony noticed a big, overgrown boy, who was just entering the hotel yard.
“That’s Sam,” said the hostler. “He don’t know he’s lost his place.”
Sam was about two inches taller than Tony, red-haired, and freckled, with a big frame, loosely put together. He was a born bully, and many were the tricks he had played on smaller boys in the village.
Sam strutted into the yard with the air of a proprietor. He took no particular notice of Tony, but accosted James. The latter made a signal to Tony to be silent.
“Well, have you just got along?” asked the hostler.
“What made you go home yesterday afternoon?”
“I didn’t feel well,” said Sam nonchalantly.
“Do you think Mr. Porter can afford to pay you wages, and let you go home three times a week in the middle of the afternoon?”
“I couldn’t work when I was sick of course.”
“I suppose you have come to work this morning?”
“Ye-es, but I can’t work very hard—I ain’t quite got over my headache.”
“Then you’ll be glad to hear that you won’t have to work at all.”
“Yes, there’s plenty to do, but your services ain’t required. You’re bounced!”
“Mr. Porter’s got tired of your delicate health. It interferes too much with business. He’s got a tougher boy to take your place.”
“There,” answered the hostler, pointing out our hero, who stood quietly listening to the conversation.
Sam regarded Tony with a contemptuous scowl.
“What business had you to take my place?”
“I don’t care if he did. He hired me first.”
“Then you’d better go to him and complain about it. It’s none of my business——”
“It’s my business,” said Sam, with emphasis.
“No,” said Tony. “You must think I’m a fool. What should I give it up for?”
“I don’t see that. I suppose Mr. Porter has a right to hire anybody he likes.”