ospect. "But let me tell you, you can't do it. Bayard has all
the help he wants; and if that is what you come for, you can move on
as fast as you please."

"I guess I will see him," added Bobby, quietly.

"No use."

"No harm in seeing him."

As he spoke he took up a book that lay on the counter, and began to
turn over the leaves.

"Put that book down!" said the amiable Mr. Timmins.

"I won't hurt it," replied Bobby, who had just fixed his eye upon some
very pretty engravings in the volume.

"Put it down!" repeated Mr. Timmins, in a loud, imperative tone.

"Certainly I will, if you say so," said Bobby, who, though not much
intimidated by the harsh tones of the clerk, did not know the rules of
the store, and deemed it prudent not to meddle.

"I _do_ say so!" added Mr. Timmins, magnificently; "and what's
more, you'd better mind me, too."

Bobby had minded, and probably the stately little clerk would not have
been so bold if he had not. Some people like to threaten after the
danger is over.

Then our visitor from the country espied some little blank books lying
on the counter. He had already made up his mind to have one, in which
to keep his accounts; and he thought, while he was waiting, that he
would purchase one. He meant to do things methodically; so when he
picked up one of the blank books, it was with the intention of buying
it.

"Put that book down!" said Mr. Timmins, encouraged in his aggressive
intentions by the previous docility of our hero.

"I want to buy one."

"No, you don't; put it down."

"What is the price of these?" asked Bobby, resolutely.

"None of your business!"

"Is that the way you treat your customers?" asked Bobby, with a
little sternness in his looks and tones. "I say I want to buy one."

"Put it down."

"But I will not; I say I want to buy it."

"No, you don't!"

"What is the price of it?"

"Twenty-five cents," growled Timmins, which was just four times the
retail price.

"Twenty-five cents! That's high."

"Put it down, then."

"Is that your lowest price?" asked Bobby, who was as cool as a
cucumber.

"Yes, it is; and if you don't put it down, I'll kick you out of the
store."

"Will you? Then I won't put it down."

Mr. Timmins took this as a "stump;" his ire was up, and he walked
round from behind the counter to execute his threat.

I must say I think Bobby was a little forward, and I would have my
young readers a little more pliant with small men like Tim