CHAPTER VI.
MR. PITCH, THE SENIOR PARTNER.
"Come in," said a loud voice.
Ben opened the door and entered.
He found himself in a square room, almost bare of furniture. In anoffice chair at a table sat a dark-complexioned man of near forty.He appeared to be reading the morning paper.
"Is this the office of Fitch & Ferguson?" inquired Ben.
A glance at Ben's carpetbag indicated that he had come in answer tothe advertisement, and he was received very graciously.
"Come in," said the man in the chair, smiling affably. "This is theoffice of Fitch & Ferguson. I am Mr. Fitch."
"My name is Stanton-Ben Stanton," said our hero. "I wrote you fromHampton about your advertisement."
"For a boy at ten dollars a week?" suggested the dark man, with apleasant smile.
"Yes, sir."
"We agreed to take you, did we not?" asked Mr. Fitch.
"Yes, sir."
"Have you had any business experience?" inquired Pitch.
"No, sir."
"I am sorry for that," said Mr. Fitch gravely. "Experience isimportant. I am not sure whether we ought to pay you ten dollars aweek."
Ben did not reply. He was not so much concerned about the amount ofhis compensation as about the reliable character of Fitch &Ferguson.
"Still," mused Mr. Fitch, "you look like a boy who would learn fast.What do you think about it yourself?"
"I think I could," answered Ben. "I should try to serve youfaithfully."
"That is well. We want to be served faithfully," said Mr. Fitch.
"What kind of a business is it?" Ben ventured to ask, surveying theempty office with a puzzled look, which Mr. Fitch observed andinterpreted aright.
"We do a commission business," he said. "Of course, we keep no stockof goods here. Business is not done in the city, my young friend, asit is in the country."
"No, I suppose not," returned our hero.
"Without entering into details as to the character of our business,"said Mr. Fitch, "I may say that you would be chiefly employed inmaking collections. It is because considerable sums of money wouldpass through your hands that we require a deposit in order toprotect ourselves. By the way, have you the fifty dollars with you?"
Ben admitted that he had.
Mr. Fitch's face brightened up, for he had not felt quite sure ofthat.
"I am glad to hear of it," he said. "It shows that you meanbusiness. You may hand it to me, and I will give you a receipt forit."
"I would like to ask you one or two questions first," said Ben,making no movement toward his pocket.
Mr. Fitch frowned.
"Really, I fail to catch your meaning," he said, in a changed tone."Do you wish to enter my employ, or do you not?"
"I should like to earn ten dollars a week."
"Precisely. Then all you have to do is to hand me the fifty dollarsand go to work."
"You might keep me only a week," suggested Ben.
"We shall keep you if you suit us, and you can if you try. If youare discharged, we give you back your money, and pay you for thetime you work for us. That is fair, isn't it?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then we may as well settle the matter at once," and he waited forBen to draw forth his money. Our hero would, undoubtedly, have doneso, if he had not been cautioned by Tom Cooper. As it was, he couldnot help feeling suspicious.
"I should like to propose something to you, sir," he said.
"What is it?" asked Fitch impatiently.
"Suppose you keep five dollars a week out of my wages for tenweeks-that'll make fifty dollars-and only pay it to me when I leaveyou."
"Young man," said Mr. Fitch sternly, "this is trifling, and my timeis too valuable for such discussion. Have you, or have you not,brought fifty dollars with you?"
"I have."
"Then you can secure the place-a place such as few New York boys arefortunate enough to fill. You must decide for yourself."
He threw himself back in his chair and looked at Ben.
"He seems very anxious about the money," thought our hero, "and Idon't see any signs of any business. I'd better back out."
"There are plenty of boys who want the place," continued Fitch,trying to look indifferent.
"I guess you can give it to one of them," said Ben coolly.
Mr. Fitch could not conceal his disappointment. The fifty dollarshad a great attraction for him. He saw that Ben was in earnest, forhe was already opening the door to go out. He must make an effort todetain him.
"Wait a moment, my young friend. I like your appearance, and we maybe disposed to take you on a little easier terms. Fifty dollars isprobably a large sum to you."
Ben admitted that it was.
"Probably your means are limited?"
"Yes, sir; I am a poor boy."
"Just so. I will then relax our rules a little in your case. Ofcourse, you won't mention it to our other boys, as it might createdissatisfaction."
"No, sir."
"We will take you on a deposit of forty dollars, then."
Ben shook his head, and moved as if to depart.
"In fact," said Mr. Fitch hastily, "I believe I will say thirtydollars, Though I am afraid my partner will blame me."
Ben was not versed in city ways, but now he distrusted Mr. Fitchmore than ever.
"I would rather take a situation where no deposit is required," hesaid.
"But you can't get any unless you agree to accept three or fourdollars a week."
"Can you afford to pay me ten dollars a week on account of mydeposit?" asked Ben shrewdly.
Mr. Fitch flushed, for Ben's question was a home thrust.
"We don't want cheap boys," he said pompously. "We want boys who areworth high wages, and no others."
"And you think I am worth high wages?" asked Ben.
"I think so, but I may be mistaken."
Ben was not required to answer, for the door opened hastily, and aman entered in visible excitement.
"What is your business, sir?" asked Mr. Fitch, rather nervously.
"Are you Fitch or Ferguson?" demanded the intruder.
"I am Mr. Fitch."
"Two days ago my son, James Cameron, entered your service."
"Yes, sir."
"Where is he now?"
"We have sent him to Brooklyn to collect a bill."
"He paid you a deposit of fifty dollars?"
"Certainly. We require it as a guarantee of honesty and fidelity."
"Well, I want you to pay it back."
"I don't understand you, sir," said Mr. Fitch, looking very muchdisturbed. "It will be given up when your son leaves ouremployment."
"Well, he's going to leave it to-day," said the other.
"Can you get him another place as good? Ten dollars a week are notoften paid to boys."
"No, sir; it's that that makes me suspicious. Give me back the fiftydollars, and James shall leave your employment."
"That is entirely irregular, sir," said Fitch. "Your son has beenonly two days in the office. At the end of the week he can leave us,and receive back his money."
"That won't do," said the angry father.
"It will have to do," said Fitch. "You are doing a very foolishthing, Mr. Cameron."
"I'll risk that."
"When your son returns from Brooklyn we will consider what can bedone."
"When will that be?"
"In a couple of hours."
"I will come in then."
Cameron went out, and Ben followed him, the discomfited Fitch makingno effort to detain the lad.
"I was thinking of engaging myself to Mr. Fitch," said Ben to hiscompanion. "Do you know anything against him?"
"I hear that he's a swindler," said Cameron. "I was a fool to fallinto his snare. Keep your money and you'll be better off."
"Thank you, sir."
Fifteen minutes afterward Mr. Fitch left his office, and when Mr.Cameron came back, the door was locked. He found his son wai
ting inthe entry.
"Did you collect any money in Brooklyn?" asked his father.
"No; I guess Mr. Fitch gave me the wrong number. There was no suchman living at the house he sent me to."
"We've been fooled!" said the father bitterly. "Come home, James. Idoubt we've seen the last of our money. If I ever set eyes on thatman Pitch again I'll give him in charge for swindling."
The senior partner of Pitch & Ferguson was at that moment on his wayto Philadelphia with the remains of the fifty dollars in his pocket.But for Ben's caution he would have had another fifty dollars in hispossession.