“You will excuse me if I wish to assure myself on this point. You see, we are so often imposed upon, that we hardly know whom we can trust,” continued the broker. “It was only yesterday that I had a young man apply for this place; and, after giving the keeper of the restaurant a deal of trouble, it turned out that he had no money, and wanted to give his note for the hundred dollars; and that would have been no guaranty at all for his honesty.” “I mean to speak the truth all the time,” said Wade. “I have no doubt you do; but then, you are an entire stranger to me. I cannot send for the proprietor of the restaurant, and ask him to come up here under another uncertainty. If you will just satisfy me that you have the money, I will send for him at once. You see, it is not very often that a young man of your age has a hundred dollars in his pocket,” persisted the broker in his blandest tone. “I think I can easily satisfy you on that point,” said Wade, as he took from his pocket his wallet, exhibiting the roll of bills, and turning over each one so that the man behind the counter could count them as he did so. “That’s enough,” answered the broker, his eyes glowing with satisfaction. “I see that you are an honest and fair young man, and very different from most of those who come here. I have a great deal of sympathy for young men out of employment; but I am sorry to say that a great many of them are willing to cheat me out of my time and money.” “I am not such a fellow!” exclaimed Wade. “I know you are not. I see you speak the truth, and are ready to back up what you say,” added the benevolent broker. “Now, if you will sit down here for a few minutes, I will go down stairs, and find a boy to send after the keeper of the restaurant.” “I won’t give you all that trouble,” interposed Wade. “I will go to his restaurant, and see him there, if you will tell me where it is.” “That’s no way to do business,” said the broker, shaking his head with another knowing smile. “I am sorry to say that all these restaurant-keepers are not as honest as you are, Mr.-- What did you say your name was?” “I didn’t say; but my name is Wade Brooks,” replied the applicant. “Some of them are not as honest as they might be, Mr. Brooks,” continued the broker, who seemed to have his eyes open to dishonesty in every direction. “If he is not an honest man, I don’t know as I want to have any thing to do with him,” added Wade doubtfully.