the
war I went up to Plattsburg to try for a commission in the army. I was
rejected on account of a bad eye. While I was up there, I met Colonel
Williams, who is now practically in charge of the buying of equipment
for the army. I've been trying for months to land the overcoat
contract for my house and last week I finally got things lined up. I
have got to have one thousand of our storm-proof army coats in
Washington by five o'clock to-morrow afternoon. At that time, Colonel
Williams will see me at the War Department and I can give him prices on
various lots and so forth."

"Why do you have to bring that many coats down?" asks Alex. "Wouldn't
a couple be enough for a sample?"

"No," says Wilkinson. "These coats are to be given to men in a
cantonment near Washington, where they will get actual wear under
varying conditions. If I'm not in Washington with them at five
to-morrow, I'll lose my chance because, the following day, men from
four rival houses have appointments with the Colonel."

"Well," I butts in, "what's stoppin' you from goin' to Washington?"

"Nothing is stopping _me_," he says, "but I can't get the coats down
there with me in time! The two shipments that we have sent by freight
have gone astray somewhere and, as government supplies have the right
of way over all other shipments, the express companies will not
guarantee a delivery at any set time."

"But them coats are government supplies, ain't they?" says Alex.

"Not yet!" says the lovely Wilkinson. "Not until they are accepted.
Right now they are nothing but samples of clothing. I've gone into
that part thoroughly."

Alex gets up and walks around the room a coupla times, throwin' up a
smoke screen from his cigar. Then he stops and looks at his watch.

"It's now almost eleven o'clock," he says. "Where are them coats?"

The lovely Wilkinson looks puzzled.

"Why," he says. "Why--they're in our stock room at 245 Broadway."

"Can we get in there to-night?" asks Alex, reachin' for his hat.

"I have a key," says Wilkinson, "but I'm afraid I don't quite get the
idea. I--"

"Look here!" says Alex, very brisk. "I'm goin' to deliver you and one
thousand of them overcoats outside the War Department in Washington at
five o'clock to-morrow afternoon! What will you get if you land this
order?"

The lovely Wilkinson leaps out of his chair.

"Why--I--," he splutters, "I--get fifteen per cent if--but you can't
get the coats there, it's i