Jack told him, shortly, the substance of his talk with Mr. Keifelheimer, and Mr. Gifford listened attentively. "His steward and buyers have been robbing him, have they?" he remarked. "Well, he's right about it. No doubt we can save him from ten to twenty per cent. It's a good idea. I'll go up and see him, by and by. Now hurry with your printing!" Jack turned to the waiting "Alligator," and Mr. Gifford went on to his desk. "Jones," he said, to his head clerk, "Ogden has drummed us a good hotel customer," and then he told Mr. Jones about it. "Mr. Gifford," said Mr. Jones, shrewdly, "can we afford to keep a sharp salesman and drummer behind that little printing-press?" "Of course not," said Mr. Gifford. "Not after a week or so. But we must wait and see how he wears. He's very young, and a stranger." "Young fellows soon grow," said Mr. Jones. "He'll grow. He'll pick up everything that comes along. I believe you'll find him a valuable salesman." "Very likely," said Mr. Gifford, "but I sha'n't tell him so. He has plenty of confidence as it is." "It's not impudence," said Mr. Jones. "If he hadn't been pushing--well, he wouldn't have found this place with us. It's energy." "Yes," said Mr. Gifford; "if it was impudence we should waste no time with him. If there is anything I despise out and out, it's what is often called cheek." Next, he hated laziness, or anything resembling it, and Jack sat behind the Alligator that day, working hard himself and taking note of how Mr. Gifford kept his employees busy. "No wonder he didn't need another boy," he thought. "He gets all the work possible out of every one he employs. That's why he's so successful." It was a long, dull, hot day. The luncheon came at noon; and the customers came all the time, but Jack was forbidden to meddle with them until his printing was done. "Mr. Gifford's eyes are everywhere," said he, "but I hope he hasn't seen anything out of the way in me. There are bags enough to last a month--yes, two months. I'll begin on the circulars and cards to-morrow. I'm glad it's six o'clock." Mr. Gifford was standing near the door, giving orders to the porters, and as the Alligator stopped, Jack said to him: "I think I will go visiting among the other hotels, this evening." "Very well," said Mr. Gifford quietly. "I saw Mr. Keifelheimer to-day, and made arrangements with him. If you're going out to the hotels in our interest, buy another hat, put on a stand-up collar with a new necktie; the rest of your clothing is well enough. Don't try to look dandyish, though." "Of course not," said Jack, smiling; "but I was thinking about making some improvements in my suit." He made several purchases on his way up town, and put each article on as he bought it. The last "improvement" was a neat straw hat, from a lot that were selling cheaply, and he looked into a long looking glass to see what the effect was. [Illustration: _Jack buys a new hat_.]