shop. His appearance being so ridiculous he was greeted with cries of
derision from the workmen, which only made him the more angry and
belligerent.

"I'll get even with you for this, Jack North!" he cried, "if I follow you
to the end! My father always said your family was the meanest on earth,
and now I know it is so. But you shall hear from me again."

With these bitter words the defeated youth, who really had no one to blame
but himself for his ill-feeling, disappeared, though it was not to be long
before he was to reappear in the stirring life of Jack North, and bring
him such troubles as he could not have foreseen.

It proved that Mr. Henshaw was anxious for another workman, and after
asking Jack a few questions, told the lad he might begin his task at once.

The pay was small, less than five dollars a week, but Jack did not let
that cause him to refuse the opportunity. He needed the money, for his
folks were in poor circumstances, and he went about his work with a stout
heart.

He quickly proved an adept workman, observing, rapid to learn and always
diligent, so much so that the foreman took a strong liking to him.

Several days passed and it became evident to Jack that if he had left one
enemy outside the shop, he had another within, who was ready to improve
every opportunity to trouble him. This was a small, thinfaced man who
worked with him, and whose name was Mires. Besides being physically unable
to carry an even end with him, this workman was prone to shirk every part
of his work that he could, this portion falling largely on Jack to do in