said to
himself) that will soon occur; there will be a general stepping-up among
members of the firm, and that will be my chance. I wonder how much they
pay a junior partner?

He almost uttered this question, as Mr. Beagle junior looked at him so
inquiringly. But he caught himself in time.

"I beg your pardon for intruding," said Gissing, "but I am the new
floorwalker."

"You are very kind," said Mr. Beagle junior, "but we do not need a new
floorwalker."

"I beg your pardon again," said Gissing, "but you are not au courant
with the affairs of the store. One has just died, right by the
silk-stocking counter. Very bad for business."

At this moment the telephone rang, and Mr. Beagle seized it. He
listened, sharply examining his caller meanwhile.

"You are right," he said, as he put down the receiver. "Well, sir, have
you had any experience?"

"Not exactly of that sort," said Gissing; "but I think I understand the
requirements. The tone of the store--"

"I will ask you to be here at four-thirty this afternoon," said Mr.
Beagle. "We have a particular routine in regard to candidates for
that position. You will readily perceive that it is a post of some
importance. The floorwalker is our point of social contact with
patrons."

Gissing negligently dusted his shoes with a handkerchief.

"Pray do not apologize," he said kindly. "I am willing to congratulate
with you on your good fortune. It was mere hazard that I was in the
store. To-day, of course, business will be poor. But to-morrow, I think
you will find--"

"At four-thirty," said Mr. Beagle, a little puzzled.

That day Gissing went without lunch. First he explored the whole
building from top to bottom, until he knew the location of every
department, and had the store directory firmly memorized. With almost
proprietary tenderness he studied the shining goods and trinkets; noted
approvingly the clerks who seemed to him specially prompt and obliging
to customers; scowled a little at any sign of boredom or inattention.
He heard the soft sigh of the pneumatic tubes as they received money
and blew it to some distant coffer: this money, he thought, was already
partly his. That square-cut creature whom he presently discerned
following him was undoubtedly the store detective: he smiled to think
what a pleasant anecdote this would be when he was admitted to junior
partnership. Then he went, finally, to the special Masculine Shop on the
fifth floor, where he bought a