money you got and I'll give you the boys' suits
at cost price. I'll do more; for every five suits you buy from me at
cost, I'll throw an extra one in, free--Jake Kasker's own
contribution."

This offer startled and somewhat dismayed Josie. She had not expected
the interview to take such a turn, and Kasker's generosity seriously
involved her, while, at the same time, it proved to her without a doubt
that the man was a man. He was loud mouthed and foolish; that was all.

While she gathered her wits to escape from an unpleasant situation, a
quick step sounded on the aisle and a man brusquely entered the office
and exclaimed:

"Hello, Jake; I'm here again. How's the suspender stock?"

Kasker gave him a surly look.

"You come pretty often, Abe Kauffman," he muttered. "Suspenders? Bah! I
only buy 'em once a year, and you come around ev'ry month or so. I
don't think it pays you to keep pesterin' merchants."

Abe Kauffman laughed--a big laugh--and sat down in a chair.

"One time you buy, Jake, and other times I come to Dorfield somebody
else buys. How do I know you don't get a run on suspenders some time?
And if I don't visit all my customers, whether they buy or not, they
think I neglect 'em. Who's this, Jake? Your daughter?"

He turned his bland smile on Josie. He was a short, thickset man with a
German cast of countenance. He spoke with a stronger German accent than
did Kasker. Though his face persistently smiled, his eyes were half
closed and shrewd. When he looked at her, Josie gave a little shudder
and slightly drew back.

"Ah, that's a wrong guess," said Mr. Kauffman quickly. "I must beg your
pardon, my girl. But I meant a compliment to you both. Accept my card,
please," and he drew it from his pocket and handed it to her with a
bow.

Josie glanced at it:

"KAUFFMAN SUSPENDER COMPANY,
Chicago.
Abe Kauffman, President."

"My business does not interest ladies," he went on in a light tone
meant to be jovial. "But with the men--ah!--with the men it's a hold-up
game. Ha, ha, hee! One of our trade jokes. It's an elastic business;
Kauffman's suspenders keep their wearers in suspense. Ha, ha; pretty
good, eh?"

"Do you ever sell any?" asked Josie curiously.

"Do I? Do I, Jake? Ha, ha! But not so many now; the war has ruined the
suspender business, like everything else. Kasker can tell you that,
miss."

"Kasker won't, though," asserted Jake in a surly tone. The girl,
however, was now on another scent.

"Do