"That will do; but suppose he does not meet our expectations?"
"He will. You need be under no apprehensions. I am something of a judge of boys, and I can assure you that he has a talent for business."
"I will take your word for it until I have a chance to judge for myself."
When Scott was informed that he would receive ten dollars a week he was delighted, and thanked Mr. Tower warmly.
"I am afraid I can't earn that sum, sir," he said.
"I know you can't," said the merchant, "but Mr. Wood is a cousin of my wife, and it is on his account that I pay you so liberal a salary. I expect you to work zealously so that you may deserve it."
Scott spoke confidently, and Mr. Tower was pleased with his modest self-assurance.
"I don't think Justin is deceived in the boy," he said to himself. "At any rate, I will give him a fair chance."
Six months later, when Justin Wood called and asked how Scott was progressing, Mr. Tower said: "He is a born salesman. He is quick, shrewd, intelligent, and above all, he inspires confidence in customers. We will hereafter pay him ten dollars a week on our own account, and will not ask you to reimburse us. But we will not raise him above that till the end of the year."
"That is perfectly satisfactory. I have only one favor to ask."
"Send him on the road as soon as you consider him competent. I think he will make a successful drummer."
"That is my intention. Some of my salesmen can never go outside the store. Young Walton will make a good record outside."
Scott had been with the new firm for a month, when Seth Lawton returned from Chicago. He was much pleased at Scott's success, but understood very well that he was indebted for it to the friendly offices of Justin Wood.
"Do your best, Scott," he said. "You are at the bottom of the ladder, but you must climb. Your future depends on yourself. Do you ever see anything of Loammi?"
"I have met him two or three times. He seems surprised, and I think a little disappointed, at my success."
"No; I promised to keep that a secret. But he knows that I live in a comfortable boarding house on Lexington Avenue, and have a good room. If he knew I was paid ten dollars a week he would want to borrow money. His father has reduced his allowance to fifty cents a week, and he complains that he might as well be a newsboy. 'Don't you think the old man is mean?' he asked me yesterday."