All this flashed through Jimmy’s mind in an instant. Mr. Hope was holding out his hand. “Good day, Mr. Rand. Thank you for coming in.” Jimmy shook hands. “Mr. Hope, can I have a job with your company?” he asked abruptly. The secretary seemed very much taken aback by the directness of this unexpected, but simple request. He hesitated; then with a curious smile on his lips, seemed to reach a sudden decision. “What can you do? Do you know anything about the glass business?” “Why, I—why no, I don’t,” Jimmy stammered. “I don’t know anything about any kind of business. But I can learn,” he added hopefully. “I can learn anything.” Mr. Hope met his earnest eyes steadily. “You see Mr. Cooper as you go out—he’s the man about that. Tell him you have seen Mr. Wentworth and me this morning. Tell him I said to fix you up if he can.” The secretary’s words surprised Jimmy greatly. Mr. Leffingwell Hope was not such a bad sort after all! “Yes, sir. And—and thank you very much,” said Jimmy. CHAPTER IV. MR. HOPE’S IDEA. Mr. Leffingwell Hope concluded his interview with Jimmy in a state of mental excitement of which his calm, imperturbable demeanor gave no sign. His keen mind had seen at once the possibilities in Jimmy’s crude idea. Mr. Hope was not a technical man. But he understood, infinitely more clearly than Jimmy possibly could, what this plan would accomplish for the Wentworth Company, assuming it would work out. Mr. Hope had imagination. He saw the technical difficulties standing in the way—some of them he had pointed out to Jimmy. But he knew, also, that probably the idea, thus crudely conceived, could be developed by some one having the necessary technical knowledge. After Jimmy left, Mr. Hope sat alone at his desk for fully half an hour, turning these thoughts over and over in his mind. Whoever broached this plan to the Wentworth Company and proved it successful would make a fortune. A fortune in a year or two! More than he could make the way he was going in ten times that long! He could marry Estelle, then; with the money, and the prestige such accomplishment would give him, that would be easy! Only this youth from the country standing between him and a fortune and a marriage with Estelle. And what did this boy have—nothing but an idea. And now _he_ had the idea, too—he could develop it—put it forth as his own when the proper time came. He would have to deal with this boy—that would be easy. Mr. Leffingwell Hope smiled his thin smile as he mused on how easy that would be. That was a clever stroke, too—helping him get a job right here in the company. He could keep his eye on him better that way—and then, when the proper time came, have him fired out of the organization.