y business men of the
neighborhood and was greeted by an elderly gentleman at a table near the
doorway who invited him to sit down. Like the firm for which he worked,
this man was a dealer in trimmings, and Dick was elated at such a sign
of favor. Perhaps it might lead to an opportunity for advancement. He
took his place with some embarrassment, however, not knowing whether
this were an invitation to luncheon or only to a seat in which to have a
friendly chat. Believing it wiser to assume the latter to be the case,
he picked up the bill of fare and said in a loud voice, "I reckon you've
ordered your grub."

Mr. James Talbert, whose modest sign on Broadway shone conspicuous among
the plethora of foreign names, smiled good-humoredly and answered: "Not
yet; I'm planning to order yours with mine. I don't have a young man
fresh from the Sunny South to dine with me every day."

Richard Brown laughed hilariously to hide the hurt to his pride. It was
not the first time that it had been conveyed to him that he was fresh.

A weary, indifferent waiter received the order, and in a short time they
were engrossed in disposing of an excellent and hearty meal.

As he became less absorbed in his chops and _saute_ potatoes, Dick
looked about the room filled with tables where busy men were intent on
fortifying themselves with food before they went back to their
engrossing work. He noted their faces, their figures, and guessed at
their professions. The tall, thin young fellow ahead was a clerk like
himself--he could tell by the way he was trying to joke with his waiter.
There were newspaper men back of him; it was easy to determine them by
their talk about this or the other "story." Moving down the aisle and
returning his stare was a young, black-haired, dark-eyed Jew thrumming
restlessly with his fingers. In business for himself, Dick guessed, and
calculating on to-day's gains and to-morrow's expenditures. The young
southerner wondered whether he would ever be able to do this, whether
the day would come when he would have a business of his own.

"Chops all right?" The older man broke the silence.

"Hunky. See that fellow over there?" Dick pointed to a somewhat soiled,
slouchily dressed youth who had taken a seat near them. "That's the way
we look where I come from, only a heap more good-natured. Something like
a mule, though, slow and kind of set-like; we could kick if it was worth
while throwing out our heels. There ain't much hurry