"I merely stopped to await a moderation of the rain," answered John, innocently, knowing nothing of the character of the place into which the door led. "Then you are not looking for a joint like this?" said the stranger, eyeing John. "What kind of a place is it?" asked John. "Don't you know?" "Have not the least idea." "You must be from the country?" "Not very long since I came from that indefinite place." "Come around some evening and ask for Mike Barton, and you'll find out," said the stranger, in a whisper, sizing John up as a likely victim for such an institution. "I never go to a place unless I know of its character first," returned John. "Huh, you don't! I pity such greenhorns as you," flippantly retorted the stranger. "You scamp!" exclaimed John, hotly, and his dark blue eyes snapped with anger, as the insolent chappy cringed beneath him. "Don't leer at me, or I will wipe up the streets with you." "Now, my dear sir," replied the stranger, seeing his mistaken opinion of the man he had met; "don't get angry; I feel a little blue this morning." "You should be more courteous, young man, whatever the time, or place, or your state of mind," answered John. "I'll heed your advice hereafter," said the stranger, with a sarcastic smile. "But take the number and come around sometime, when I'll make amends for this insult, if you choose still to take it as such." "Oh, never mind about that; but what did you say your name was?" "Mike Barton. Your name?" "John Winthrope." "Do you work?" asked Mike. "I do." "Where?" "At Jarney & Lowman's." "Jarney & Lowman! Jarney! Jarney! Hah! Well, good morning," saying this rapidly, Mike Barton stepped to the wet pavement, hugged the walls as he went along, and disappeared directly. John Winthrope then resorted to a cheap restaurant. After eating a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs and coffee, he, having plenty of time yet to spare, mozied out into the elemental downpour, and sauntered to his office. He arrived there just in time to see the doors flung open to let in an army of clerical men and women for the day. His shoes being damp, he exchanged them for a pair of slippers, a supply of which aided in cumbering up a rubbish room in the building. In selecting a pair, through the scramble with the others, he was unfortunate enough to get a size too small. Thus he was caused no little pain in his big toes during the rest of the day, which detracted his attention a great deal from his work. It was a busy day in the office of Jarney & Lowman, by reason of the approaching end of the fiscal month; and he was therefore kept busy, sparing not a moment from his accounting for casual conversation with his associates, or for anything for that matter.