He 's in town , visiting his old college friend , Mr. Reid , and he 's quite big game . I would n't have had the assignment , of course , if there 'd been anyone else to send , but most of the staff will be away all day tomorrow to see about that mine explosion at Midbury or the teamsters ' strike at Bainsville , and I 'm the only one available . Harmer gave me a pretty broad hint that it was my chance to win my spurs , and that if I worked up a good article out of it I 'd stand a fair show of being taken on permanently next month when Alsop leaves . There 'll be a shuffle all round then , you know . Everybody on the staff will be pushed up a peg , and that will leave a vacant space at the foot . '' Patty threw down her darning needle and clapped her hands with delight . Clifford gazed at her admiringly , thinking that he had the prettiest sister in the world -- she was so bright , so eager , so rosy . `` Oh , Clifford , how splendid ! '' she exclaimed . `` Just as we 'd begun to give up hope too . Oh , you must get the position ! You must hand in a good write-up . Think what it means to us . '' `` Yes , I know . '' Clifford dropped his head on his hand and stared rather moodily at the lamp . `` But my joy is chastened , Patty . Of course I want to get the permanency , since it seems to be the only possible thing , but you know my heart is n't really in newspaper work . The plain truth is I do n't like it , although I do my best . You know Father always said I was a born mechanic . If I only could get a position somewhere among machinery -- that would be my choice .
There 's one vacant in the Steel and Iron Works at Bancroft -- but of course I 've no chance XXXXX getting it . ''
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