He asked to see the business manager, and was
granted an interview.
"Mr. Arverne," said the boy, "I called with regard to securing the
figures for the census of nineteen hundred and ten."
"But you are not the special agent surely?" said the manager, looking at
him sharply.
"No, sir," the boy answered, "Mr. Burns is the special agent, and I am
one of his assistants."
"I should have thought Mr. Burns would have come himself," the man said;
"you are young for this work, aren't you?"
Hamilton flushed at this reference to his boyish appearance, but he
answered steadily: "Yes, sir, I believe I am younger than most of the
assistant special agents, but I have had a good deal to do with
figures."
"Burns is a good man," the manager continued. "If the government has
men of that stamp all over the country, the statistics will be
invaluable. You know Mr. Burns?" he added suddenly.
"Only just since this work began, Mr. Arverne," the boy replied.
"Queer chap. I don't believe he eats a bit of food or drinks a glass of
water without mentally figuring the nutritious percentage in the food,
and the effect of his drink upon the water supply of the world.
Pages:
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77