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“If I should give you employment could I depend on you to do what you were told?”

“What I was told?” said Will, rising impulsively to his feet. “I wouldn’t give a smashed cent for the feller who couldn’t do more than he was told.”

“That would never do,” replied Mr. Leonard. “I want a boy to do just as he is told.”

“And what chance is there for genius, then, if a feller can’t spread a little?” asked Will, earnestly. “The boy that only does what he’s told won’t never get to Congress.”

“And they who act beyond their instructions sometimes get to the State’s prison, my boy. If I give you a position you must learn to never take a step without orders.”

“I can try,” said Will, with a comical leer, “but it’ll go mighty ag’in’ the grain.”

Their conversation was interrupted at this point by the entrance of a person into the office.

He seemed to be one of Mr. Leonard’s employes, and was a tall, well built man, but dressed with a foppish vanity that at once attracted the boy’s attention.

He looked with surprise at the merchant’s strange visitor, a look of disdain coming upon his face, as he drew somewhat back, as if in fear of contamination. Will glanced at him from head to foot, with a steady, impudent stare.