Marden went to the office of his old acquaintance. It was small, but as large as many in the same line of business.
"Well, Robert," he said, "it's arranged. You will go to work on Thursday morning. Here is the card of your employer. To-morrow I will go round the city with you."
"Shall I receive enough to pay my board, Mr. Marden," asked Robert anxiously.
"You will receive twelve dollars a week."
"I don't see how Mr. Gray should be willing to pay me so much," he said.
"Oh, he has a little private arrangement with me. There is another clerk, considerably older than you. He is not to know how much you get. Let him understand that it is five dollars."
"I understand. How generous you are, Mr. Marden."
"Well, Dick. But you ought not to pay so much for me."
"Why not? Consider me your uncle, and take care to do credit to my recommendation."
"I will," said Robert earnestly. "Shall you remain in the city, Uncle Dick?"
"I may come here now and then, but I expect day after to-morrow to go to the northern part of Michigan, to visit an old friend there, who is in the lumber business."
"Then, hadn't I better be looking for a boarding-place?"
"Well thought of. We'll look over the _Record_ and hunt up a place."
Within an hour Robert had selected a small room not far from La Salle street, where he was to have full board for five dollars a week. The room was not equal to the one he had at home, but he would spend very little time there.
During the day following, Robert and his miner friend made an extensive tour of Chicago, and Robert felt impressed with the magnitude of the city and the extent of the business that was carried on in it.
"Do you think you shall like Chicago, Robert?"
"Yes, Uncle Dick; I begin to feel like a man of business already."
"I am glad to hear that, boy. Let me see, how long have we known each other?"
"And yet you seem like my own boy. I never had anyone belonging to me before."
"I'm not much on letter writing, but I reckon I'll be able to scribble a few lines occasionally."
Robert remained with the miner till Thursday morning, and then made his way to Mr. Gray's office.
He found a tall young man with tallowy hair and freckles standing behind the counter.
"What can I do for you, boy?" he asked with lofty politeness.