The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-11-09


 inquired amiably, "Well?''
 Good morning." stammered Dun can-"er-I should say afternoon"
 "So you should" Sam admitted, still want"
 Duncan swallowed hard and master ed his confusion. Would it be possi- ble for me to speak to the proprietor a momentY'
 "I should jedge it would. Go right along" Sam filed vigorously.
 Might ask-are you MT. GrahamT
 'fYes, sir; that's me"
 The filing continued stridently.
 'T-I'm looking for employment" said Duncan hastily. Tf'-
 "Employmentr'
 Graham dropped his tools with a chatter and faced round. For a mo- ment his eyes twinkled and a wintry smile frightened his fine old features.
 ''Well, I declarew he said, rising. ''You must be the stranger the whole towns been talking about
 eff at any dme," Duncan pursued hastily, you should have an opening here that you can offer me shall en- deavor to give satisfaction. Good day. sir" And he made for the door.
 '1Eh, just a minute,' said Graham. "Are you in a hurry"
 Duncan paused, smiling nervously. "Oh, no-only I mustn't press it, you know-just say it and get right-I mean I don't want to take up your valuable time, sir"
 Graham chuckled. Guess the folks haven't been talking much to you about me-" he suggested. You seem to have a higher opinion of the value of my time than anybody else in Rad ville."
 "Yes, but-that is to say"-
 "But if you're really looking for job I'd like to give you one first rate"
 Duncan started toward him in breathless haste. ''You-you'd like to-! You don't mean itr'
 "Yes," Graham nodded, smiling with enjoyment of his little joke. 1t was harmless. He didn't for moment be- lieve that Duncan really needed en- ployment, and. on the other hand, it Hckled him immensely to think that any one should apply to him for work.
 Well" said Duncan. staring. you are the first man I ever met that felt that way about it."
 Sam's amusement dwindled. 'The trouble is," he confessed-"the trouble is, my boy, my business is so small I don't need any help. There isn't much of anything to do here."
 That's just the sort of place I'd Hke." said Duncan impulsively. Then he laughed a little uneasily. 'T mean Pm willing to take any position. no matter how insignificant. mean it. honestly
 '"This Night suit you. them
 'I wish you'd let me try it, sir"
 "But you don't understand" Gra- ham was serious enough now. There wasn't any joke in what he had to say '"To tell you the truth, I can't afford 1t. When your pay was due I'm afraid I shouldn't have any money to give you.'
 Duncan dismissed this paitry con- sideration with princely gesture. '1 don't mind that part" he insisted 'Mr. Graham, if you'll teach me the drug business I'll work for you for nothing"
 He said it earnestly, for he meant it just a bit more seriously than he him. self realized at the moment, and Pm glad to think it was because Sam's serene and gentle, guileless nature had appealed to the young man.
 Between you and me-" he hurried on, tits this way-I've been here for two weeks with nothing to do but look to want to work.''
 As for Sam, as soon as he recovered he shook his head in thoughtful dep recation. Well, I swany' he said. "I guess you must find it pretty slow down here. But," brightening, ''if you feel that way about it I'd better take you over to Sothern &s Lees. They'd be glad to get you at the price,
 And in a week they'd think they "No; I've been there. Why not try me on herew
 'sWell, Pm just little bit afraid you wouldn't learn much, my boy. 1 don't 1o business enough to give you a good hea of it"
 Duncan brushed this impatiently aside. How much business are you doing here now"
 Some days'-Graham reckoned it on his fingers-"I take in a dollar or two and some days nothing. There's my sody fountain" he said, with a jerk of thumb toward it-"got that fixed up little while ago. and it's bringing in a little-not much. You see, need more sirups. I've only got vanilly now"
 Soda waterw Duncan jumped at the idea. Hold on! All the girls round here drink soda. don't they?'
 "Oh, yes," said Graham abstractedly.