"
"Humph!" Mr. Joyce rubbed his chin. "Is Mr. Mann about?"
"Yes, sir; just gone up to the stock-room."
"Tell him I'd like to see him for a few minutes."
"Yes, sir. Mr. Joyce, I believe."
"That's the name."
"I'll send word at once. Won't you sit down?"
"Thanks."
Mr. Joyce sank into an office chair.
Going to a speaking tube behind one of the broad counters, the salesman
sent his message up to one of the floors above.
"Mr. Mann will be down directly," he said, after a moment.
In five minutes a stout, bald-headed gentleman of fifty came down by
the elevator at one side, and stepped forward.
"How are you, Tim?" he exclaimed, thrusting out a chubby hand.
"First rate, Mel," returned Mr. Joyce. "This is a young friend of mine,
Richard Dare," he continued.
Mr. Mann shook hands cordially.
"He has come to the city to try his luck," went on the leather merchant.
"He has a taste for your line, so I brought him around to see if you
hadn't an opening for him."
Now an application made in this way, and coming from an ordinary source,
would have met with a courteous negative. But the firm of Williams &
Mann were under obligations to Mr. Joyce, who had on several occasions
indorsed their notes for many thousands of dollars. Besides, all three
men were old friends; so Mr.
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