“In a way, perhaps. But he knows I moved him along to get rid of him. It really isn’t much of a promotion. He’ll get an extra dollar a week, maybe, but he’ll have to work to earn it. And he knows it. He didn’t do any work here at all. He was the worst loafer I ever had on the job. I’m hoping you will be an improvement.” “I’m going to be,” said Willie, very quietly, and more to himself than to his new boss. He took the papers back to his desk and read them over. The questions were simple and he found that he could answer all of them readily. He drafted his answers, then went over each answer carefully to see whether he had misspelled any words, and whether he could improve the wording. When he was fully satisfied that he had his answers in as good shape as he could put them, he copied them neatly on fresh paper and handed the sheets to Mr. King. The latter went over the papers at once. Then he touched the buzzer. “Your papers are satisfactory,” he said, “and you are formally appointed to the job. You are now in a Civil Service position and cannot be ousted from it except for misbehavior or incompetency.” “Thank you, Mr. King,” said Willie. “I’m glad to know it.” “Very well. But don’t think that because you are a Civil Service employee you can loaf on the job. We don’t always promote boys when we get rid of them. Just remember that.” Willie went back to his desk and began to familiarize himself with his tasks. He made some mistakes at first. When a man inquired for Mr. King and Willie took the man into the inner office without first speaking to Mr. King, the Special Agent was provoked. The minute the man was gone, Mr. King rang his buzzer and reprimanded Willie. “Don’t do that again,” he said sharply. “Always find out a caller’s name and business, and then find out whether it is convenient for us to see him. That applies to any of us here in the office. We can’t be bothered by every Tom, Dick, and Harry who chooses to walk in.” “Very well, sir,” said Willie. “I’m sorry I made a mistake.” He was puzzled about the mistake, too, for he was certain the old office boy had told him his business was to conduct callers promptly to the Chief. “Probably I misunderstood him,” thought Willie. Presently the mail-carrier came with a great bunch of letters. Willie promptly took them to Mr. King. Hardly had he resumed his seat at his desk before the buzzer rang angrily. “Sort this mail,” said Mr. King sharply. “Deliver each letter to the man it’s addressed to. Be sure you slit the envelopes in my own mail. I can’t waste time opening envelopes.” Willie’s eyes popped open wide. “Why, I thought,” he began, and then was silent. He sorted, slit, and delivered the mail as directed. But while he was doing it, he was trying to recall what the old office boy had told him. Willie was certain he had been told not to slit any letters. Could it be that he had misunderstood?