"Yes, I succeeded, but in a far different line from that I marked out for myself. But"--in a changed tone--"it is later than I thought, and I must reluctantly say good-by. I am sorry you will not take the position I have offered you; but I cannot say that I respect you less for having refused it. When do you leave town?" "At noon." "And it is nearly eleven now. Well, my boy, let me hear from you once in a while; and be sure that you will always have a friend in John Anderson." "Thank you, sir. Good-morning." And Al backed toward the door. "Wait a moment," the mayor cried, suddenly producing a sealed envelope from his pocket. "I want you to take this. Open it at your leisure. I trust the contents will prove acceptable to you. And now, good-day, good-day." Al could not help thinking that the manner in which his companion almost shoved him out of the room was due to a fear that he would open the envelope before he got out. But he put it in his pocket, saying: "I am very much obliged to you for your kindness to me, sir." "The obligation is on the other side, Mr. Allston," was the reply. "But good-day--and good luck to you." It was after eleven when Al reached Mr. Wattles' hotel. "I was beginning to be a little nervous about you," said the manager. "But I said to myself: 'I don't believe he is one of the kind that go back on an agreement.'" "And you were right, Mr. Wattles." "You know you must leave by the noon train." "I am all ready, sir." "Our next stand, as you are aware, is Rockton. It has the reputation of being a bad show town, and if you can create a _furore_ there you will do well." "I'll try, sir." "There is one morning paper there; do what you can with it." "I will. If you could only persuade Mrs. Anderson to go there! She was born in Rockton, and the whole population would turn out to see her." "I thought of that, and tried it. But the mayor wouldn't hear of it. But he is going to let his wife appear here again to-night, all the same." "So I have heard." "Eh? Are the bills out already?" "I guess not. I have just come from the mayor's office." "Ah! indeed? Well, that's right; it's policy to keep in with such people." Al's face flushed. "I didn't go there as a matter of policy," he said, "but only because I promised the mayor yesterday that I would." "Well, he ought to do something handsome for you in return for the great service you did him." "I think he did quite enough in giving me that ring last night. My mother says it must be worth at least five hundred dollars, and she knows something about such things." "It is worth more than that. But Anderson ought to do more for you. Why doesn't he get you a job under the city with a fat salary and nothing to do?" "That's just what he offered me this morning," laughed Al. The manager's jaw fell. "Then I shall lose you before long, of course?" "Not on account of that political job." "Eh?" "I refused it." "You did?"