The She Boss

ext morning. Then he sought the squint-eyed landlord and pa

in the hall which dignified what lay beyond as a "lounging room." The door stood ajar, and he saw that the room was empty. He decided to go in and think. A thousand

riting-table, ten yellow kitchen chairs. Hiram t

know where to look for it, nor what duties he should state that he could perform. Dreaming of i

eyes of the girl of the restaurant again, and perhaps speak to her if occas

dless matches for markers. The third took from his pocket a folded newspaper and sat down at the window opposite Hiram. He a

hat he did not like their unkempt looks, so t

e face. It was the face of a man in the thirties, robust and good-natured, with bushy brows, slate-blue eyes, and a nose that would have been termed Grecian if it had not been

lmost said "What do you want?" in a disinterested though not antagonistic way. Hiram was caught unawares.

any jobs in

at Hiram and shrugged, and the g

th the twisted nose in a sort of rol

an what

th the pap

r. "Why, I don't exactly know. I'm w

tudied Hiram a little longer, the

they scanned t

y, five dollars a day; one hundred muckers, New Mexico, two-fifty day; one trammer, three-fifty day; one hundred laborers, New Mexico, three dollars day; porter in bakery, city, must be sober; boy, sixteen years old,

slate-blue eyes on Hiram. "There you are, ol'

ught Hiram's

any o' these j

for the address o' the advertiser, then

d a hundred muc

d refunds it to the railroad company, or sticks it in his pocket if he's wise. Le's see-where they shippin'?" He glanced at the column again.

r ten, or even sixteen jerkline, too. Yo

r at-what is it?-fifty-five and f

n to southern California for two dol

d to death to do i

gh. "Mendocino Co

rail for the f

ently knew it, so H

hta stayed there. That country'll go to wor

there?" asked

everyw

ram used the new express

moter and

apitalist," Hiram

n't workin' at the capitalist

toward this genial stranger; now he felt he was being

esumed his paper as if t

told Hiram he meant what he said, and that, furthermore, it was with him a matter of indifference whether any one belie

s granted. A third unkempt individual thrust hi

ge players

oor held up a quarter between a

as he scraped back his chair and rose. "Cheese, Thumb

was the retort. "De point is, are youse

the door. "Lead us to it, Thumbscrew," he swaggered portentously;

d the newspaper. He had not so much

come. After a silen

eave it right away and go to drivin

"What're you doin'-breakin' loose fr

dded and

time from head to foot. "Been a f

truth, this is my first time in a city. I got in last night

nt came between the other'

was Hiram's me

is lips, a far-away look in the slate-blue eyes. W

xpect to take up

e acknowledged. "To tell the truth, I'm pretty green. I

's obsolete. Say raw, or that you're a hick,

nto some big man's office a

nd protestingly and his fac

nothing else. The fella out on the works is the lad that knows the fundamentals of the job. Take this railroad-construction business, for instance: When the contractor wants a new general superintendent he don't make

," Hiram confessed-

er thoughtful pause: "Say, I suppose you're a littl

m no

eek, but couldn't raise the price. Anywhere'll suit me, where there's a chance o' makin' a little stake. That's what you wanta do-go to work and make a stake. Then look about for

an you'r

! I'm

your money?" Hiram

, then enter Morgan & Stroud's in our usual graceful manner and tell 'em we've decided to acce

a jerklin

d. But if that's what you wanta hi

m Hoo

led you for the part. Mine ain't much bett

ha

tter-or-Tweet, or just Twitter-or sometimes Playmate. I'm gregarious. I gotta have a par

Hiram a ca

TW

TING THE

PMENT

Gordo,

EKERS' PRO

LK AN

sé," explained Mr. Tweet, "but I've got no other card. They pinched the ow

t?" Hiram a

d'ye say?" he persisted. "I'm broke and I need a little cash. But I'm a money getter! You tide me over this little depression and I'

in reading human nature, and Mr. Tweet would have a

want me to do

s all. You'll never regret it." Tweet sat pulling his twis

that is, you call yourself a capitalist,

for breedin' confidence in others is one o' the big secrets o' my success. Success, I say-get t

e, and started

own on the street?"

ht I'd stroll

go with you, if

not-co

though he were to distrust this man, in the en

ught of breakfast and pau

reakfast, Mr. T

m soberly. "Are you invitin' m

ed Hiram with a foolish grin.

er, nor anybody else since y

t pushed ahead throug