Chester Rand Part 43

Chester did so.

"I will send for you if I need you. I think you can help me materially.

You seem to have a clear head, and are observing."

It was the evening for Chester to call at Prof. Hazlitt's.

"I pa.s.sed your office this morning, Chester," said Arthur Burks, "and thought of calling in, but I was in haste."

"You wouldn't have found me, Arthur. I am discharged."

"What!" exclaimed Arthur, in surprise. "What complaint does Mr.

Fairchild make of you?"

"None at all. He is out of the city. The bookkeeper, who dislikes me, discharged me, and gave the place to his cousin."

"I am awfully sorry. What will you do?"

"I have some money saved up. Besides, I shall devote more time to drawing. I made a sketch yesterday which Mr. Conrad thinks I will get ten dollars for."

"That is fine. I never earned ten dollars in my life."

"You have never felt obliged to work, except in school."

"I take care not to injure my health in studying," said Arthur, with a laugh.

"I will speak to uncle Edgar, and he will arrange to have you come four times a week instead of two. Then you will earn more money from him."

"Thank you, Arthur. I should like that."

Prof. Hazlitt, on being spoken to, ratified this arrangement, so that Chester's mind was easy. He knew now that he would be able to support himself and more, too.

Chester soon had something more to encourage him. He received at his lodgings the following letter:

"MR. CHESTER RAND.

"DEAR SIR: We are about to establish a new comic weekly, which we shall call _The Phoenix_. It is backed by sufficient capital to insure its success. Our attention has been called to some ill.u.s.trations which you have furnished to some of our successful contemporaries, and we shall be glad to secure your services. We may be able to throw considerable work in your way. Please call at our office as soon as possible.

"EDITORS OF THE PHOENIX."

Chester was quite exhilarated by this letter. He felt that it was a proof of his growing popularity as an artist, and this was particularly gratifying. Besides, his income would be largely, at any rate considerably, increased. He lost no time in presenting himself at the office of _The Phoenix_.

It was located in a large office building on Na.s.sau Street. He took the elevator and went upstairs to the sixth floor. On the door of a room a little way from the elevator he saw the name, and knocked.

"Come in!" was the response.

Chester opened the door and found himself in the presence of a man of about forty, with a profusion of brown hair shading a pleasant countenance. He looked up inquiringly as Chester entered.

"Is this the editor of _The Phoenix_?" inquired Chester, respectfully.

"_The Phoenix_ will have no existence till next week," answered the other, pleasantly. "I expect to be its editor."

"I came in answer to your letter."

"To my letter?" repeated the editor, puzzled.

"Yes; my name is Chester Rand."

"What!" exclaimed the brown-haired man, almost incredulously. "You--a boy? How old are you?"

"Sixteen."

"And you are a contributor to _Puck_ and other papers?"

"Yes, sir."

"You must be a smart boy. Shake hands."

Chester shook hands with a smile.

"Will my being a boy make any difference?" he asked.

"Not if your work is satisfactory. Are you willing to work exclusively for _The Phoenix_?"

"Yes, sir; that is, if I may be allowed to complete a contract I have made."

"What sort of a contract?"

"I am ill.u.s.trating Prof. Hazlitt's ethnological work. I think it may take me some months more, working evenings."

"That won't interfere with us. I was afraid you might be under an engagement with a rival publication."

"No, sir. So far as that goes I will confine myself to _The Phoenix_ if----"

"Terms are satisfactory, I suppose."

"Yes, sir."

"Then I will agree to pay you twenty-five dollars a week for the first six months. I may be able to do better afterward."

Chester was dazzled. Twenty-five dollars a week! What would Silas Tripp say to that or his enemy, the bookkeeper.

"I accept," he answered, promptly.

CHAPTER XXV.

CHESTER MEETS ANOTHER ARTIST.