to read, but his mind was on other things as he found himself half-listening for the phone.
It was late afternoon when the call came. Mr. Woodring was brisk and businesslike.
“Ted? I got your message. I’m sorry that I was out, and only got back a few minutes ago.”
Although he must have known why Ted called, he took nothing for granted, and waited for Ted to state his business.
“Mr. Dobson tells me you’re in need of office help for a few weeks, and I thought maybe I could fill the bill. I’m looking for something to do, until I leave town in about three weeks. Mr. Dobson said you probably wouldn’t need me for longer than that, anyway.”
“That would suit me just fine, Ted. I managed to rent that office you spoke of, and the phone will be in early in the morning. How soon can you report for work?”
“Tomorrow morning would be all right with me.”
“That’s fine. I’ll see you at nine o’clock, then. Good-by.” And the conversation ended as abruptly as it had begun.
Ted decided he would have time for a quick trip downtown before supper, and left almost at once. He had library books to return, and a few purchases to make, and he stopped in front of the theater just to see what would be playing during the next week. There was a horror picture coming, and he didn’t feel that would do, for he doubted that Nancy would care for that kind of picture. Suddenly he wondered what had made him think of Nancy just then.
When he arrived home he told his mother about his new job and asked her for her opinion of the trading stamps. She wasn’t likely to be carried away by fads or something-for-nothing schemes.
“It sounds like a good idea to me, Ted,” she decided. “Women seem to like that sort of thing. It’s sort of like a saving plan. You want something that you really can’t afford, so you save up until you can afford it.”
If his mother liked it, Ted decided that most of the other women would, too. In a way he was glad, even though he couldn’t work up a whole lot of enthusiasm for the plan himself. He wouldn’t have wanted to see Mr. Dobson betting on a dead horse.
Later that evening the telephone rang again.
“It’s for you, Ted,” his mother called to him. “Nancy Lindell.”
Ted was momentarily pleased, but then surprised and puzzled. Why was Nancy calling him? It wasn’t likely she would call a boy she just met that day, unless it was about something pretty important.
“Hello, Nancy?” he answered.
“Ted, I’ve got to know something right away.” Her voice sounded troubled.
“Go ahead, Nancy,” he urged her, as she paused.
“Ted, did I take your job away from you?”
“Why, no, Nancy,” he said in surprise. “What makes you think you did?”
She seemed relieved, although not fully convinced. “Well, Ted, you used to come into the newspaper office almost every day, didn’t you? And now I’ve just heard from Aunt Marian that you’re going to start working for Mr. Woodring. I did take your place, didn’t I?”
“Oh, no, you didn’t, Nancy. You mustn’t think that. Of course I came in every day while they were shorthanded, but that’s all over now.”
“But if I weren’t here, you’d still be coming in, wouldn’t you?” she persisted.
Ted remembered his long months of feuding with Carl Allison but couldn’t bring himself to explain. “No, Nancy, I honestly don’t think so. Besides, you’re not even doing the kind of work I was doing. I had very little to do with the filing or the correspondence. I don’t even know shorthand.”
“Well, I hope you’re not just saying that to be polite, Ted, because I’d feel awfully bad if I thought I really was interfering. It isn’t that I have to work, but I am glad of the chance to get some practical experience, and Aunt Marian seems to like to have me around. However, I’d quit in a minute if I thought it was hurting you.”
“Not at all, Nancy, not at all,” he said quickly. “I think I’m going to like my new job. It’ll be a change, and even if I don’t like it, it’s only for a few weeks anyway.” The truth was that he was still working for the newspaper, over at Mr. Woodring’s place, but he decided not to mention that. If Mr. Dobson wanted it known, he could tell her.
“I hope you do, Ted. It does help to get around into different places, doesn’t it? I feel I’ve learned a whole lot in just the few days I’ve been at the newspaper.”
Ted thought quickly about that movie again. It was the only movie in town, and he didn’t have a car to take her to North Ridge. He couldn’t ask a girl like Nancy to go to a horror movie like that—or could he?
“Nancy, I was going to ask you to go to the movies Saturday night, but it’s about one of those monsters from outer space—”
“Why, Ted, that’s just what I love! I always like to see if I can get scared, but most of them are too tame.”
Ted brightened. “Then would you—could we—”
“Sure, Ted. Saturday night. Aunt Marian’s waiting for me, so I’d better hang up. Good-by now.”
Reluctantly Ted replaced the receiver.
CHAPTER 4
AN UNPLEASANT DISCOVERY
At a quarter to nine Ted was waiting in front of the new office. He thought it would make a little better impression to arrive ahead of time the first day, but he had to wait just fifteen minutes, for Mr. Woodring arrived precisely on time.
“Good morning, Ted,” he said briskly.
“Good morning, Mr. Woodring,” Ted responded, but his new boss had already turned away and was unlocking the door. It was quite a small office and at the moment a desk, a chair, a wastebasket, and an empty coat rack were the only furnishings.
“The phone will be in soon, and I’ve already given the number to some interested prospects, so there may be some calls.”
“What shall I tell anyone who calls?” Ted questioned.
“Well, in the first place, it will probably be people who will want an appointment with me. I have my appointment book here.” Mr. Woodring drew it from his brief case and laid it out flat on the desk. “Now you can see that on certain mornings and afternoons I’ll be out of town and won’t be available for local appointments. I try to avoid being absent for a whole day at a time if I can. If the caller asks for an appointment, you can look at my schedule and see when I’ll be available, and make an appointment for me.”
“What if they only want some information?” asked Ted.
“Then give it to them, of course, if you can. Don’t try to answer if you aren’t sure, but just tell them they’ll have to get in touch with me. Still, I’d much rather have you try to steer them into making an appointment. That will give me an opportunity to outline my whole proposition to them and perhaps cement
