human
How many, if I may ask?
gpt
Twenty-two hundred and six,
human
I pass, he said,
gpt
I heard you talking with that young chap who just left, when you were coming into the office. Do you know him at all?
human
Not in the least,
gpt
There's quite a story about that case, the supervisor said, settling himself back in his chair,
human
I didn't think he looked even as old as that,
gpt
Yes, he's nineteen. As I was saying, the choice seemed to lie between these two. Wurtzi's paper was a few points better than the other, indeed I think it was one of the best tests turned in to me from any center. On the other hand, the schoolmaster was a graduate of one of the large colleges, had lived most of his life here and in the mountain districts of the State, was prominent in church affairs, and knew everybody. That was why, when I sent the papers to Washington, I recommended him for appointment instead of the boy, of whom I knew nothing except that his examination paper was slightly the better of the two.
human
Yet the boy got the job!
gpt
He did, the supervisor answered.
human
The government rejected my recommendation, and I got a letter from the Director stating that Wurtzi should be appointed on his showing rather than the other unless I knew something against him.
gpt
I suppose that was fairer, Hamilton said thoughtfully,
human
Generally they were, but still there were reversals in a good many cases, was the reply.
gpt
But from everything that I've heard, suggestions from Washington seem to have had the knack of being just about exactly the right thing. They certainly were in this case. I sent the lad his commission at once, of course.
human
What did the master have to say?