"Because I like it, sir." The divisional chief leaned back in his chair, put his fingers together in characteristic attitude, and smiled. "Eh," he said, "you are sure you will like the work?" "Quite, sir," said Hamilton in his decided way. "I looked it all over, and I know." "You will be less sure of the future when you are older," the Scotchman said, "but if you 'know,' there's nothing more to be said. I'm going to put you under the care of Mr. Burns, and he will instruct you further in the work." "But, Mr. Clan--" began the boy. "Well?" "Where am I going, sir?" "New Haven, Connecticut--a good town, and one that will give you plenty of work. You'd better start for there to-night. I hope you will like it as much as you expect." "Thank you, sir," Hamilton replied, seeing that his superior deemed the interview at an end. "I'll do the very best I can." On arriving in New Haven the following day, Hamilton made his way to the local Census Office opened by his new leader. He found Mr. Burns to be a typical statistician, to whom figures had a meaning beyond themselves, but to whom little was of value unless it could be expressed in figures. Hamilton introduced himself briefly. "You're Noble," the other said abruptly. "When will you be ready to begin?" "Any time," answered Hamilton. "Right after lunch, sir, if you want me to make a start." "There's a portfolio," the census agent answered, "take it along and you can begin just as soon as you're ready." "What instructions have you to give me, sir?" asked Hamilton. "I save eleven and a half per cent of the time given to instructions by writing them. You'll find a copy in there," he said, pointing to the portfolio. "Very well, sir," the boy replied, "I'll go ahead, and if I find anything I don't understand, shall I come and ask you?" "Telephone!" the census agent said. "Quicker to 'phone even if only in the next room. Average conversation, six minutes; average telephone conversation, two minutes; average value of my time for six minutes, eighteen cents; average cost of 'phone for two minutes, one cent; direct saving to me seventeen cents, not counting time of your traveling to come and talk. No! Telephone!" "All right, sir," Hamilton answered, "I'll 'phone," and realizing that his new chief had the question of the valuation of time down to a fine point, he hurried away. On reaching the hotel he examined his portfolio with a great deal of curiosity. The schedules were familiar, for one of the features of the examination he had taken had been the filling out of such a census schedule from financial statements of a group of factories. The written instructions, however, were thoroughly characteristic of the man, and percentage figures were scattered around like punctuation marks. But the explanations were clear as crystal, none the less, and gave no opportunity even for telephoning.