CHAPTER XXVII.
MR. TRIPP IS DISAPPOINTED.
Silas Tripp returned home full of the news he had heard in New York.
"Just as I thought," he said to himself, "Chester Rand ought never tohave left Wyncombe. He ain't calc'lated to succeed in the city. He'dorter have stayed in my store. In two or three years he might have beenearnin' four or five dollars a week, and he could have boarded at home.It costs a sight to live in the city. I ain't sure that I could affordit myself."
Mr. Tripp decided to offer Chester his old place at two dollars and ahalf a week. Abel Wood was again in his employ, but he didn't like himas well as Chester.
The latter he had always found reliable, while Abel was rather apt toforget what Silas told him. Once he had stopped in the street andplayed ball, losing ten or fifteen minutes in that way. Mr. Tripp wasobliged to confess that he never had a more satisfactory boy thanChester.
The store closed at nine, and Silas, instead of going into the house,walked over to Mrs. Rand's cottage.
She was rather surprised when she saw who her visitor was.
"Good-evening, Mr. Tripp," she said, politely. "Won't you come in?"
"Thank you, widder. It's rather late to call, but I thought you mightlike to hear about York, seein' Chester is there."
"Have you been to New York to-day?"
"Yes; I went up on a little business."
"Did you see Chester?"
"No, I didn't see him," answered Silas, significantly.
"Did you hear anything of him?" Mrs. Rand naturally asked.
Mr. Tripp coughed.
"Well, yes, I heered somethin' about him."
"Is he--sick?" asked the mother, anxiously, made apprehensive by histone.
"Not that I know of. Hain't he writ anything special to you?"
"I had a letter yesterday, but there was nothing special in it."
"I suppose he didn't say nothin' about his place?"
"Yes; he likes it very much."
"I don't like to say it, widder, but he's deceivin' you. I saw hisemployer myself, and he said that he had to discharge Chester."
Somehow Mrs. Rand did not seem so much disturbed by this intelligenceas the storekeeper thought she would be.
"Oh, you mean the real estate office," she said.
"Yes; I was treated quite handsome by Mr. Mullins, the bookkeeper, whois runnin' the business while Mr. Fairchild is away. He says Chesterwasn't spry enough, that he wasn't wide awake enough to work in thecity."
Mrs. Rand actually smiled.
"So that is what he said," she returned. "I can tell you why Chesterwas discharged. Mr. Mullins wanted to give the place to his nephew."
"Mebbe so," answered Silas, dubiously. "Anyhow, it's unfortunate forChester to lose his place. I feel for you, Mrs. Rand, as I always likedChester myself, and I came here to-night to say that I'm ready to takehim back into the store, and give him two dollars and a half a week. Hesuits me."
Mr. Tripp leaned back in the rocking-chair and looked as if he had madea very handsome proposal.
"I see, Mr. Tripp," said Mrs. Rand, smiling, "that you think Chester isout of a position."
"So he is. Wasn't he discharged? I know from what Mr. Mullins said hewon't take him back."
"Chester would not be willing to go back. He has a new and betterplace."
"You don't say!" ejaculated Mr. Tripp, surprised and, it must beconfessed, disappointed. "What sort of a place is it?"
"He is working for a New York paper or magazine."
"Sho! Does he get as much pay as he did at the other place?"
"Considerably more," Mrs. Rand answered, with satisfaction.
"More'n five dollars a week?"
"Yes; he offers to send me five dollars a week, but I can get alongwithout assistance, since Miss Dolby pays me so liberally."
"Well, I am surprised. Chester is very lucky. Mebbe it won't last," hecontinued, hopefully.
"It seems likely to be permanent."
"Well, I guess I must be goin'. If he should lose his place, tell him Iwill take him back any time."
"I don't think he would be satisfied to come back to Wyncombe afterworking in New York."
Silas Tripp returned to his house rather disappointed. He had felt sosure of securing Chester's services, and now his old boy seemed to bequite out of his reach.
"Offered to send his mother five dollars a week!" he soliloquized."Then he must be makin' as much as ten in his new place. Mr. Mullinsdidn't seem to know about it. I wonder what he can be doin' to get sucha high salary."