"I have, but I won't have after to-night, I can tell you. I have no use
for lazy boys, and for laziness he can't be beaten. Here I sent him to
deliver some goods more than two hours ago, and he hasn't got back yet,
and this is my busiest day."

So disagreeable was the tone in which the old man spoke that Foster
could not refrain from remarking:

"Well, you do not seem to be overrushed with trade just now. However,
that is neither here nor there. How long have you had Bob in your
employ?"

"Ever since he was big enough to be of any service to me."

"He's a good boy, isn't he?"

"No, he's not. Didn't I just tell you he has been gone over two hours,
delivering an order that should not have taken him more than fifteen
minutes at the most? No good boy would dawdle so about his business. But
why do you ask?"

Foster, however, was not ready to tell Bob's employer of his predicament
until he had obtained more information about the boy, and instead of
answering the question, said:

"You misunderstood my meaning. I want to know whether or not he is
honest or has any bad habits."

"He has the habit of taking a long time to deliver his orders, and he
always has some plausible excuse for the delay--although I never accept