lained the
stranger. "My name is Beelzebub, and I am my master's most trusted
agent."

"Sir," said Daniel, "you must pardon me (for I am loath to wound your
feelings), but one of the rules governing my career as a business man has
been to deal directly with principals, and never to trust to the offices
of middle-men. The affair now in hand is one concerning the Devil and
myself, and between us two and by us two only can the preliminaries be
adjusted."

"As it so happens," explained Beelzebub, "this is Friday,--commonly
called hangman's day,--and that is as busy a time in our particular
locality as a Monday is in a laundry, or as the first of every month is
at a book-keeper's desk. You can understand, perhaps, that this is the
Devil's busy day; therefore be content to make this deal with me, and you
will find that my master will cheerfully accept any contract I may enter
into as his agent and in his behalf."

But no,--Daniel would not agree to this; with the Devil himself, and only
the Devil himself, would he treat. So he bade Beelzebub go to the Devil
and make known his wishes. Beelzebub departed, much chagrined.
Presently back came the Devil, and surely it _was_ the Devil this
time,--there could be no mistake about it; for he wore a scarlet cloak,
and had cloven feet, and carried about with him as many suffocating
smells as there are kinds of brimstone, sulphur, and assafoetida.

The two talked over all Daniel's miseries; the Devil sympathized with
Daniel, and ever and anon a malodorous, gummy tear would trickle down the
Devil's sinister nose and drop off on the carpet.

"What you want is money," said the Devil. "That will give you the
comfort and the contentment you crave."

"Yes," said Daniel; "it will give me every opportunity to do good."

"To do good!" repeated the Devil. "To do good, indeed! Yes, it's many a
good time we shall have together, friend Daniel! Ha, ha, ha!" And the
Devil laughed uproariously. Nothing seemed more humorous than the
prospect of "doing good" with the Devil's money! But Daniel failed to
see what the Devil was so jolly about. Daniel was not a humorist; he
was, as we have indicated, a plain business man.

It was finally agreed that Daniel should sell his soul to the Devil upon
condition that for the space of twenty-four years the Devil should serve
Daniel faithfully, should provide him with riches, and should do
whatsoever he was commanded to do; then, at the end of the