ft for our two
subscriptions."

"By gad!" said Livingstone, weakly.

"But the advertising is where we come in," insisted Barrifield, eagerly.
"And besides, everybody won't take lamps, either."

Van Dorn was smiling queerly.

"No," he said; "and if they did we can get them over at Cutten &
Downum's for sixty-seven cents apiece. I saw them there yesterday."

"Not this lamp!" protested Barrifield. "I'll bet ten dollars it was a
cheap imitation. I'll write to President Bright to-night about it. He's
a fine man. He'd take some stock in the 'Whole Family' in a minute, if
we'd let him. It couldn't have been this lamp!"

"Maybe not," assented Van Dorn; "but they had a big card up, saying
'Bright & Sons' Stellar, sixty-seven cents,' and the lamps looked just
like this."

The others said nothing, but their confidence in Barrifield's purchasing
ability had received a distinct jar. Presently Perner noticed the head
waiter watching them intently. He was about to mention this when the
minion walked over and spoke to Barrifield in a whisper. Barrifield grew
red and began to drag the things together as the waiter moved away.

"What's the matter? What did he say, Barry?" asked Van Dorn.

At first Barrifield did not answer. Then the humor of it seized him, and
he chuckled all over, growing even redder as he hid away the things.

"Come, old man, what did he say?" urged Livingstone.

Barrifield could hardly steady his voice for laughter.

"It's too good to keep," he admitted.

"Out with it, then," said Perner.

"Why," said Barrifield, "he said that they had sample-rooms up-stairs,
and that it was against the rules to show samples here in the
dining-room."

"Hoo-ee!" shouted Van Dorn. "That calls for something."

"By gad! yes," said Livingstone, "it does!"

It was well along in the afternoon when the friends left the place, and
Perner, Van Dorn, and Livingstone returned to their apartments. They
went over at first and stood for some moments before the picture of the
bread line.

"Why don't you finish it, Stony?" asked Perner. "Finish it up and sell
it for enough to pay your part in the 'Whole Family.'"

"Good scheme-- I've thought of it," confessed Livingstone.

"Do you suppose there are any publishers in that line?" mused Van Dorn.

Livingstone laughed.

"I say, fellows, let's take a walk up Fifth Avenue and pick out the
houses we're going to buy next year!"

As they turned to go, Van Dorn took up a blank piece