"Really, I fail to catch your meaning," he said, in a changed tone.
"Do you wish to enter my employ, or do you not?"

"I should like to earn ten dollars a week."

"Precisely. Then all you have to do is to hand me the fifty dollars
and go to work."

"You might keep me only a week," suggested Ben.

"We shall keep you if you suit us, and you can if you try. If you
are discharged, we give you back your money, and pay you for the
time you work for us. That is fair, isn't it?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then we may as well settle the matter at once," and he waited for
Ben to draw forth his money. Our hero would, undoubtedly, have done
so, if he had not been cautioned by Tom Cooper. As it was, he could
not help feeling suspicious.

"I should like to propose something to you, sir," he said.

"What is it?" asked Fitch impatiently.

"Suppose you keep five dollars a week out of my wages for ten
weeks-that'll make fifty dollars-and only pay it to me when I leave
you."