some dignity, and talk some, himself. Perny had to go down
and straighten them out, and now they've got the door locked
between them. They are all right, though, both of them, I
suppose, in their way. I don't care for Bates-- I don't like
his way, though Perny and Barry say that some of the
smartest men they ever knew were like him. But the Colonel
is an old brick. He's traveled all over the world and been
in about all the battles that ever were fought. He's been in
a lot of different kinds of business, too, and has made a
great many people rich. I don't think he's very rich now
himself--at least, he doesn't look like it, though, of
course, you can't always tell. I know he's expecting money
in a few days, for I lent him a dollar this morning until it
comes. I'm going to get him to pose for me, if he will, for
he's a perfect type for the bread-line picture if he only
won't get any new clothes. I'm almost afraid to ask him,
though he's so good-natured I know he can't refuse. He's a
boon to Perny, for he talks to all the people with
circulation schemes and keeps them down-stairs, so Van and I
can get out the rest of the pictures for the first issue
and begin some for the second. Bates takes care of the
advertising solicitors, too, which is a help, though he
worries Perny a good deal trying to find out how much money
we've got. He made up to the Colonel yesterday and
questioned him on the subject. The Colonel told him we had
_millions back of us_. Of course, we've never told the
Colonel about Frisby, and he doesn't know any more than
Bates, or just how _far_ back of us the millions are any
more than we do, but wasn't it a jolly answer? The Colonel
is always amusing, while Bates never is. Bates wants a lot
of things, too, and we've got new tables and letter-presses
and chairs that all cost a good deal more than you'd think
for. You've no idea how things count up, and now, with
Bates's salary and the stenographer's and double rent, it
really almost scares me sometimes. Still, Frisby did it
without money, though, of course, he had some things that we
have to buy, and then he got credit, too. We'll either have
to do that soon or make another assessment, for there is
something new that we have to buy every day.

"You should see our n