But the next day something happened. While Tom was at his breakfast the door bell rang, and, answering it, the while wondering who the early caller could be, Tom saw Charley Grove. “Hello, Tom,” greeted his chum. “Had your breakfast? Come on, hurry up.” “What’s the matter? A fire?” “I’ve got a chance to get you a job.” “A job? Where?” “In a lawyer’s office. I’ve been keeping watch of the ads. in the paper, and this mornin’ there’s one in for a boy in the same building where I am. A big firm of lawyers want a boy to manage their private telephone exchange. Hurry up down and get it.” “Maybe they want some one who is more experienced than I am.” “What? With me t’ recommend you?” asked Charley incredulously. “Aw, come on. Hurry up!” Filled with delightful anticipations Tom hurried. Charley took him to the office in question, which was on the tenth floor of a big building on Washington Street. Early as it was there were several boys in the corridor, waiting for the place to open. “We’re too late,” said Tom. “You’ve got as good a show as any of ’em. You’ll git a chance t’ see one of the lawyers, and when you do, jest up and tell him you was my assistant. They know it takes a good boy to work a board in a broker’s office.” “But I wasn’t your assistant.” “Well, tell ’em I taught you. That’ll do.” Charley had to leave Tom, to go to his own duties, and a little later, the offices of the law firm were opened. The boys were admitted in turn, and at last it came Tom’s chance. Luckily he kept his head, and answered the questions the lawyer asked him so intelligently, and told so frankly just what had been his telephone exchange experience, that the lawyer remarked encouragingly: “I believe you’ll do.” Tom’s heart gave a bound. Fortunately he had several good letters of recommendation, and, after a few more details had been settled, our hero found himself engaged to take charge of the switchboard in the private exchange of the big law firm, the boy who had previously managed it having been discharged for incompetency. “Won’t mother be glad!” exclaimed Tom, and he wished he could hurry home and tell her, but as the firm needed an operator at once, Tom had to start right in. At last he had what he felt was a good position. CHAPTER XI TOM MAKES A DISCOVERY But if our hero imagined that working a telephone switchboard in the office of a big law firm was going to be as easy as it was to practice with his chum, Tom was grievously disappointed. Soon after he took his seat in front of the board, with its maze of cords, plugs, holes, cams and push buttons, he had a call for one of the partners. There were three members of the firm, which was known officially as Boise, Keen & Cutler. Mr. Boise was the senior member and Elias Cutler the junior.