st pattern, or perhaps you would prefer
velvet?" queried a foppish little fellow. And Theodore, who was sharper
at that style of talk than any of them, and was rapidly losing his
embarrassment, replied in a tone of great good humor:

"I never pick out my goods until I see them; but then perhaps the vest
you have on is for sale? Are you the show-block?"

This question, put with great apparent innocence, produced a peal of
laughter, for the vest in question was rather too stylish to be in
keeping with the wearer's surroundings and business.

An older clerk now interposed.

"Show him something, Charlie--that's a good fellow."

"Can't," said Charlie, from his seat on the counter, "I'm too busy;
besides I don't believe we could suit him. We haven't anything in the
style his clothes are cut. There's a man right around the corner whose
father made coats for Noah's grandsons; hadn't you better go to him?"

"I say," put in he of the stylish vest, "can't you call in some other
time, when business isn't quite so pressing? You see we're just about
driven to death this morning."

Just how far this style of treatment would have been carried, or just
how long Theodore would have borne it, can not be known, for with the
conclusion of the last sentence every clerk came suddenly to a standing
posture, and two of them advanced courteously to meet a new-comer, at
the same moment that a gentleman with iron gray hair, and whom Theodore
took to be one of the proprietors, emerged from a private office, and
came forward on the same errand, and the young man nearly laughed
outright when he recognized in the new-comer Mr. Stephens. The two
gentlemen were shaking hands.

"Glad to see you again, Mr. Stephens," said he of the iron gray hair.
"How can we serve you this morning?"

"Nothing for me personally, thank you." And then Mr. Stephens turned to
Theodore.

"Do you find what you wish, Mallery? Mr. Houghton, let me make you
acquainted with this young friend of mine--Mr. Mallery, Mr. Houghton.
This young man, Mr. Houghton, is one of my confidential clerks, a very
highly valued one, and any kindness that you can show him will be
esteemed as a personal favor to me."

Mr. Houghton bowed his iron gray head very low.

"Very happy to have Mr. Mallery's patronage; trusted they could suit
him. Had he looked at goods? What should they have the pleasure of
showing him this morning? Cummings, show Mr. Mallery into the other
room, and serve him