“Look here, sir,” he said, earnestly, “whether you take me on or not, I'll tell you. I have no mother. My father cannot help me. I--I shall have to send money to him.” “Who paid for your education?” “He did, but he--can't now. I--I didn't expect it and--anyhow, there is nobody that I can ask for help, and I don't want to. I want to earn money. I may not be worth fifty cents a week to anybody at this moment, but you might make me worth something to you.” “How?” “I don't know what you will ask me to do, and so I can't tell whether I can make good here. But I'll make good somewhere, as sure as shooting.” “How do you know?” “I've got to. I don't expect to have a walkover, but even in my failures I'll be learning, won't I? I haven't got any conceit that's got to be knocked out of me. I've a lot to learn and very little to unlearn, and--well, if you'll ask me questions I'll answer them.” “You will?” “Yes, I will,” said Tommy, flushing. He had to fight. He began to fight distrust. He added, “I'll answer them without thinking whether my answers will land the job or not.” “Why will you answer them that way?” “What's the use of bluffing? It doesn't work in the long run--and, anyhow, I don't like it.” “You must learn to think quickly, so that you may always think before answering,” said Thompson, decidedly. Tommy felt that this man had sized him for a careless, impetuous little boy. Probably he had lost the job. If that was the case Thompson plainly wasn't the man for him. Tommy, without knowing it, spoke defiantly. He thought he was talking business to a business man. He said: “Well, I am not selling what you want, but what I've got, and--” “Where did you hear that?” interrupted Thompson. Then, after a keen look at Tommy's puzzled eyes, said: “Excuse me, Mr. Leigh. You were saying--?” “I think you wish to know what I am, and so I want to answer your questions as truthfully and as quickly as I can.” “How much money have you got that you can call your own?” asked Thompson. He showed more curiosity now than at any other time in their interview. Tommy looked at Thompson's chubby, good-natured face and the steady eyes. “I borrowed fifty dollars from friends to come out here with. But I had this.” He put his hand in his inside pocket where his mother's gift was. Then he brought out his hand--empty. “Yes?” said Thompson. There was an insistence in his voice that perplexed Tommy, almost irritated him. “It's--I think' it is--a hundred dollars my mother--” Tommy paused. “I thought you had no mother?” Thompson raised his eyebrows and looked puzzled rather than suspicious. Tommy impulsively took from his pocket the little package of gold coins--the only money he could take from his father. He hesitated. Finally he said: “I haven't opened it. Would you like to know what it is?” “Please!” said Thompson, gently.