Frank flushed with pleasure. “Right at the start,” continued his visitor, “I offer you a good, permanent position in my store at Lancaster at eight dollars a week.” “I thank you greatly,” replied Frank, “but I have partly decided on some other plans with my mother.” “All right. If you change your mind, come to me. Now then, to size up this proposition in detail.” The speaker looked into and over everything. When he had gone one round he picked up an empty red cardboard box and began to cut it up into small squares. “I seem to have made a fine investment, Buckner,” he said to the insurance man. “There’s over two hundred dollars in those lawn mower parts alone. The regular stuff like tools and cutlery are good for as much more. See here, Newton: I am going to put one of these red cardboard squares on all the lots I wish you to ship to me at Lancaster.” “Yes, sir,” nodded Frank. “Get some strong boxes and pack the stuff well, send by freight.” The hardware merchant now went from pile to pile, placing the red bits of cardboard on about two-thirds of the stuff. “Aren’t you going to take those needles?” inquired Buckner, noticing that his client had passed them by. “Why, there’s fully a million of them.” “No use for them.” “And this big pile of apple corers?” The hardware man shrugged his shoulders. “No,” he said plumply. “They busted Morton. If he couldn’t make them go, I can’t.” “And those other heaps of second-best stuff?” inquired Frank. “I should think they would sell for something.” “And spoil the sale of good-profit goods. No, no. That’s poor business policy. I shall make double good as it is. Just dump the balance into some junk shop. Whatever you get for it you can keep, Newton.” “Oh, sir,” interrupted Frank quickly, “you hardly estimate the real value there. Why, anyone taking the trouble to put those needles up into packages could clean up a good many dollars. There’s a lot of sewing machine needles there, too. They are worth three for five cents anywhere.” “All right,” retorted his employer with an expansive smile. “You do it, Newton, I won’t. Take the stuff with my compliments, and thank you in the bargain for all the pains you have gone to in turning me out a first-class job.” “Takes your breath away, does it, Frank?” said Buckner, with a friendly nudge. “It will give you some interesting dabbling to do for quite a time to come, eh?” “Yes, indeed,” murmured Frank, his eyes shining bright with pleasure. He was fairly overcome at the unexpected donation. He seized the hardware man’s hand and shook it fervently. “Sir,” he said gratefully, “I feel that you have given me my start in life.” “Have I?” laughed his employer lightly. “Glad. Well, the matter’s settled,” he continued, consulting his watch--“I must catch my train.” “One little matter, please,” said Frank, advancing to the zinc box and throwing back its cover.