CHAPTER IX.
ENEMIES.
Franklin's brief visit to Belden Brice's residence was one full of pleasure. Both the speculator and his httle adopted daughter did all in their power to make him comfortable, and they succeeded to the last degree.
When the elegant repast that was served was over, little Cora was sent off in charge of the housekeeper, and then Franklin followed Mr. Brice into the library, where they sat down to talk over the young electrician's prospects.
"I presume you are anxious to know if I have found a place for you," began Belden Brice, dropping into a comfortable armchair by the open grate, and motioning the boy to a seat opposite.
"Yes, to tell the truth, I am anxious," returned Franklin. "I hate to be idle, and, besides, I cannot afford to be without work."
"I have made inquiries at a number of places, but without success," went on Belden Brice. "I wanted to get you into some first-class electrical establishment, where you might learn all of the details of the business, for that is what would be best for you, to my way of thinking."
"Yes, I would like that best. But I am willing to take anything," added Franklin, quickly. "I must be earning some money, now my Uncle Will is sick."
"There is one place I haven't tried yet," went on Belden Brice. "It is the Phoenix Electric Fan Works. I own some stock in that concern, and I think I can get you in there without much trouble."
"Why, that would be just the thing, wouldn't it? Electric fans are in the right line" began Franklin.
"They are, that is true, my boy. But the works are devoted principally to the manufacturing of the fans, and only a few men are employed in the electrical department."
"Perhaps if I get work there I can prove that I am best fitted for the electrical department"
"I thought of that. But I have one strong objection to seeing you go to work at the Phoenix shops. The class of hands employed there are, on the average, hardly fit to associate with a refined boy like yourself. When the shops were first opened all the other factories in Paterson were running full time, and, as a consecjuence, it was hard to get good hands. Our superintendents were not careful, and I understand that at present we have some very undesirable workmen on our payrolls."
"That's too bad, certainly. But if I went to work there I guess I could keep away from them"
"And not be led astray?" questioned Belden Brice, keenly, "Many of the men drink and swear, and use tobacco, and many other undesirable things which I know you are above doing."
"They could not make me do what I did not wish to do," said Franklin firmly. "I would do my work and go my own way, and that would be the end of it."
"Good! Then we will walk down to the shops at once. Of course, if the place grows distasteful to you, you can give it up at any time."
Quarter of an hour later they were on their way to the Phoenix Electrical Fan Works, which were situated down in the factory district, among the silk mills. Reaching the office, they entered, and Belden Brice called for Thomas Buckman, the chief superintendent.
"Here is a young friend of mine who wants employment," explained the speculator. "He takes to electricity, and I have an idea he will some day make his mark in it. Have you any place open for him?"
The superintendent, a small man with an unusually shrewd cast of countenance, eyed Franklin critically.
"Want a job, eh? Well, I don't know. We are pretty full just now. What kind of work were you looking for?" he added, addressing the young electrician directly.
"I was wishing for something connected with electricity, but I am willing to fill any position that is vacant."
"He understands quite a bit about electrical apparatus," put in Belden Brice in a low tone, as he pulled the superintendent to one side. "He is crazy on the subject, and he ought to make a good hand in the motor department."
Thomas Buckman rubbed his chin refiectively.
"Well, I guess I can place him there," he said.
"I've got two men on one of the benches, but there's room for a third, and, seeing it's you that ask it, Mr. Brice, I'll squeeze him in." He turned to the young electrician: "You can come to work in the morning."
"Thank you, Sir,"
"And about pay?" asked Belden Brice.
"I will pay him what he proves himself to be worth. It is all piece work in the motor department you know."
At this moment the superintendent was called away, so, without keeping him longer, the speculator took his departure, followed by Franklin.
"Have you found a place to stop at?" questioned Belden Brice, suddenly.
"No, Sir. But I guess I can find a boarding house somewhere in town."
"No doubt you can. But you need not be in a hurry. You can stop at my house for the balance of this week. I will have a room set aside for you."
Franklin demurred, but Belden Brice insisted, and finally it was arranged as the speculator had mentioned. Then the young electrician took a train, and went home to tell the news, and get his trunk full of things.
He was on hand early on the following morning, and without much ceremony was set to work beside two older boys. The work of the three consisted of polishing up the completed motors and placing them in square japanned cases. For this labor they were allowed four cents and a half on each piece.
Franklin soon acquired the knack of doing the work, and went at it with a will. He was naturally handy, and by noontime could do the work almost as well as his two companions.
"Say, you don't want to work too fast," grumbled Bob Jackson, one of the other boys, a clumsy specimen of the toughest class of factory hands. "If you do that, you'll get too much done, and then the boss will cut down the price per piece."
"But the work can be done much faster than we are now doing it," returned Franklin. "It is very simple."
"It can't be done no faster," put in Mike Nolan, the other boy. "I've worked at it nearly a year and I know."
As Mike Nolan was very awkward and very lazy, Franklin did not doubt but that he had reached his limit. He was not one to take a single step in advance during his whole life.
"You ought to do less, for a starter," went on Bob Jackson. "I only earned two and a half the first week I was here."
"I want to earn all I can," was the young electrician's reply.
"No, you don't!"
"Not much!" added Mike Nolan. "You slow up after dinner. If you do as much as us, old Buckman will think we've been loafing before."
"I shall certainly not slow up," said Franklin, with spirit. "I need the money, and I am going to earn it."
"All right, then, we'll see about it," returned Bob Jackson, his face growing dark and ugly. "You keep on this afternoon and see what you'll get when we quit to-night."
"You had better mind what Bob says," added Mike Nolan, significantly. "We ain't going to let no new fellow come in and hurt our job for us. If you want to keep in with us, you have got to do as we want you to; see?
And with determined looks on their anything but handsome faces, the two boys strode off, leaving Franklin in a decidedly uncomfortable frame of mind.