“Neither did I. But I guess they’ll know what I’m after. And we ought to have some more magazines, I suppose, if only for show. It’s most time for the March numbers to come out, though, and we don’t want to overstock on the February. I’ll telephone to the news company and ask them to send a half-dozen with the out-of-town papers. I’d better hurry, too, or they’ll be here. Where is the nearest telephone? Look here, Jack, Mr. Adams ought to have a public booth down here in the lobby.” “That’s so. It would be sort of handy for us, wouldn’t it? Do you suppose he would if we asked him?” “I don’t know, but I’m not afraid to ask. Maybe, though, we could afford one of our own.” “At thirty-six dollars a year? You must be crazy!” “Is that what it costs? How about a two-party line? Or――――” Joe stopped and regarded his partner thoughtfully. “Out with it!” demanded Jack. “Why couldn’t we have a public ’phone――one of those drop-a-nickel affairs, you know, and set it here by the wall? I wouldn’t be surprised if we made enough to get our own calls for nothing.” “We might,” agreed Jack hesitantly. “How much would we have to pay the telephone company?” “I don’t know. Tomorrow I’ll go around there and ask. Well, I’m off. Pay the news company when they come. And pay for the _Recorders_, too. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” “Why don’t you go across to the store?” asked Jack. “The telephone’s in the outer office. Just tell them I said you were to use it.” “Too cheeky. I’d rather pay for the call myself. Out of the firm’s money!” he added laughingly as he disappeared through the revolving doors. He was back some twenty minutes later. “Anything doing?” he asked as he deposited two bundles on the counter. “Lots,” replied Jack. “I sold two cigars, a package of cigarettes, one _Recorder_, and a box of these mints. And I paid for the evening papers and a dollar and twelve cents to the news company.” “Did you put down what you’d paid out?” “No. Should I?” “If you don’t we’ll get all mixed up. I’ve got a small blankbook here and I guess we’d better start in and keep a careful account of everything. What papers did the news company bring?” “All sorts. There’s one from New York. We’ll never sell that, Joey.” “I don’t believe we will, but it doesn’t matter. After a week or so we’ll find out just what papers we can sell, and how many, and then we’ll confine ourselves to those. They brought the magazines I asked them to? Oh, I see. All right. Things begin to look a bit more business-like again. Undo this candy, will you, while I get the cigars out. By the way, what do you think? That cigar that Mr. Adams smokes is called Vista de Isla and it costs seventeen dollars and twenty cents a hundred!” “Great Scott! You didn’t buy any, I hope?” “Twenty-five; four dollars and thirty cents. Here they are.” “Well, but, say, Joey, that’s pretty steep! Suppose he doesn’t buy any?”