“Is it?” asked the doctor humbly. “I knew there was something I ought to remember. Well, good-night, Tom--is it Tom? Oh, yes, I remember now. Perhaps you’ll have some more books to deliver for me next week. I must get some more authorities on colds,” and the aged gentleman tottered off, shaking his white head, as though vainly trying to remember something. “I guess that’s all that need detain you,” said Mr. Sandow rather roughly to Tom. “We close up early here.” “Yes; my business is finished,” replied the boy. As he went down the stone steps, our hero wondered at the queer actions of Mr. and Mrs. Sandow, for they seemed to have some strange control over the aged doctor. CHAPTER V CHARLEY GROVE’S IDEA “Hey, Tom!” hailed a voice, as our hero got off the street car, near his home. “Where are you going?” Tom turned, to behold his chum, Charley Grove, whom he had not seen since going to work in the book store. “Going home,” replied Tom. “Where are you going?” “Same place. Haven’t seen you in over a week. Where have you been keeping yourself?” “I’ve got a new job,” replied Tom. “Where?” “Down in Townsend’s Book Emporium.” “What doin’? Readin’ books?” “Not much. Don’t get any time for that. We’re busy on account of the holidays. What are you doing?” “Oh, I’ve got a new job, and it’s fine.” “What at?” “I run the telephone switchboard in a broker’s office. Short hours and good pay. I get ten a week. All I got was eight in my last place.” “That’s what I got, before the firm failed. Now I only get five.” “You ought to strike for more money.” “Wouldn’t do much good. I’m only an extra hand during the holidays. I’ll be lucky if I stay there after the first of the year.” “That’s too bad. You ought to learn to be a telephone boy. I know two or three who make more money than I do.” “Is it hard to learn?” “Well, it isn’t so very easy, and if you’re in a busy office like mine it keeps you on the jump. It’s no fun to have all three members of the firm trying to get connections at once, and half a dozen parties on the outside wanting to talk to the partners to give orders to sell or buy stocks. I couldn’t do it at first, and I got all mixed up, but I can work it all right now.” “I’d like to have a place like that,” said Tom. “I used to take orders over the telephone in the grocery store.” “Bein’ on a private exchange is a heap different from that,” said Charley, as he walked along beside Tom. “Do you think there’s a place in your office for another boy?” asked Tom, rather wistfully, as he thought of the good salary his chum was getting. “I don’t believe so. But I’ll keep my ears open, and if I hear of anything in that line, I’ll let you know.” “I wish you would. I’ll have to look for something after Christmas, and I’m afraid I’ll have a hard task finding anything.” “Where were you when I saw you getting off the car?” asked Charley. “I’d been over in the Back Bay section, to collect some money from a Dr. Spidderkins.”