glass cases where eclair and fruit cake
were waiting the call to service, and braced himself against the
counter.

"Hello, Al," said Skippy affably, "here we are again. Set 'em up four
times."

"I see you and I see that there Doc Macnooder," said Al in an
unconvinced sort of way.

"Set 'em up," said Macnooder in an encouraging tone.

"_Who's_ settin' 'em up?" said Al, resorting to his toothpick.

Macnooder looked at Skippy, Skippy looked at Snorky, then all three
looked at Hippo.

"The pleasure is mine," said Hippo and with a purse-proud gesture he
flicked on the counter a twenty dollar bill.

Al was not easily shocked but for once his perfect manner left him. He
glanced at Hippo and then enviously at Macnooder.

"I didn't know they picked them as early as that," he said
enigmatically. "Doc, you'll be buying this place in a week."

"I could buy it now," said Macnooder frowning, "and Al, step to the back
and have a little business talk with me."

Al, having received payment and displayed the Jiggers, left for the back
of the store to that secluded nook which had heard a hundred
explanations and supplications from the improvident and hungry. Skippy,
who despite the new assurance of his public manner, was willing to learn
at the feet of a master, Jigger in hand, moved into a position of
eavesdropping.

"Nineteen dollars and seventy-two cents," said Al, coming to the point.

"Exactly what my little proposition comes to," said Macnooder affably.
"Tear it up, Al, you'll do it sooner or later so why not now?"

"What's the flim-flam?" said Al, who recognized in Macnooder qualities
of a superior intelligence.

"I don't like the word," said Macnooder in a pained tone. "I've got an
idea and you're going to buy it. Al, the Jigger Shop has had a cinch, a
monopoly, a trust. You fixed prices and you've controlled the output.
Now answer me, yes or no. Have you ever paid out one cent in
commissions?"

"Get to the point."

"I will. I have an idea, I might say a brilliant idea and when I say I
like the idea better than any idea I can remember--you know me--I'm
modest, but Al, it's a wonder. You'll like it. No, change that line, you
may not like it but you'll respect it. Al, I'm going to let you in, give
you the first chance. Conover would double the commission. Appleby would
go wild over it. But, Al, I'm giving _you_ the first chance."

"Nineteen dollars and seventy-two cents," said Al, making a motion to
close his