Now I mean what I say, and I shall be hurt if you
refuse. I am in here two or three times a week, and my road takes
me within five hundred yards of your mill, so it will be no trouble
to me to come round for half an hour as I pass, and give you a few
hints until you get well into harness. There are dodges in our trade,
you know, as well as in all others, and you must be put up to them
if you are to keep up in the race. There is plenty of room for us
all, and now that the hands are all banding themselves against us,
we mill owners must stand together too."
Ned at once accepted the friendly offer, and two or three times
a week Mr. Cartwright came round to the mill, went round the place
with Ned, and gave him his advice as to the commercial transactions. Ned
found this of inestimable benefit. Mr. Cartwright was acquainted
with all the buyers in that part of Yorkshire, and was able
several times to prevent Ned from entering into transactions with
men willing to take advantage of his inexperience.
Sometimes he went over with Mr. Cartwright to his mill at Liversedge
and obtained many a useful hint there as to the management of his
business. Only in the matter of having some of his hands to sleep
at the mill Ned declined to act on the advice of his new friend.
"No," he said; "I am determined that I will have no lives risked in
the defense of our property. It has cost us dearly enough already.
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