The speaker was Sam Barker, and the young man addressed was a clerk in the office of Henry Dalton & Co. He gazed with wonder and amusement at the grotesque¹ figure before him.

 

"Have you business with Mr. Dalton?" he inquired.

 

"I should think I had," said Sam. "Is he in?"

 

"Not yet. He'll be here presently."

 

"All right. I'll wait."

 

Carefully parting the tails of his coat, Sam coolly deposited himself in an office chair, and looked about him.

 

"Are you in business for yourself?" asked the clerk.

 

"I have been," said Sam, "but I'm goin' to work for Mr. Dalton now."

 

"Did Mr. Dalton hire you?"

 

"Of course he did. He's goin' to pay me five dollars a week. How much does he pay you?"

 

"That's a secret," said the young man, good-naturedly.

 

"Is it? Well, I'll excuse you."

 

"You're very kind. That's a stylish³ coat you've got on."

 

"Isn't it?" said Sam, proudly, and rising from the chair he turned around in order to display fully² the admired garment.

 

"Who is your tailor?"

 

"I forget his name, but he hangs out on Chatham Street. I only bought this coat yesterday."

 

"Don't you think it's a little too long?"

 

"Maybe it is," said Sam, "but I don't mind it. I can cut it down if I want to. Maybe they've got another like it, if you want one."

 

"I'm supplied just at present," said the young man. "What do you expect to do here?"

 

"I'm to be the errand boy. Does the boss work you very hard?"

 

"Oh, no, he's reasonable. How did you happen to get in with him?"

 

"I brought home his little boy. The little chap was cryin' round the streets, when I met him and took him home."

 

"Oh! you're the boy I heard him speak of. Well, you're in luck, for Mr. Dalton is an excellent employer."

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