Al had two attitudes of welcome, according to the record of the books, one in which the hand advanced impulsively and a smile broke from under the shaggy yellow bang and another where the hand remained in a stationary receptive cup, or sometimes caressed the limp ends of the mustache in a way most discouraging and disheartening to the delinquent debtor. When Doc Macnooder arrived, however, he paid him the further honor to carefully close the glass cases where eclair and fruit cake were waiting the call to service, and braced himself against the counter. "Hello, Al," said Skippy affably, "here we are again. Set 'em up four times." "I see you and I see that there Doc Macnooder," said Al in an unconvinced sort of way. "Set 'em up," said Macnooder in an encouraging tone. "_Who's_ settin' 'em up?" said Al, resorting to his toothpick. Macnooder looked at Skippy, Skippy looked at Snorky, then all three looked at Hippo. "The pleasure is mine," said Hippo and with a purse-proud gesture he flicked on the counter a twenty dollar bill. Al was not easily shocked but for once his perfect manner left him. He glanced at Hippo and then enviously at Macnooder. "I didn't know they picked them as early as that," he said enigmatically. "Doc, you'll be buying this place in a week." "I could buy it now," said Macnooder frowning, "and Al, step to the back and have a little business talk with me." Al, having received payment and displayed the Jiggers, left for the back of the store to that secluded nook which had heard a hundred explanations and supplications from the improvident and hungry. Skippy, who despite the new assurance of his public manner, was willing to learn at the feet of a master, Jigger in hand, moved into a position of eavesdropping. "Nineteen dollars and seventy-two cents," said Al, coming to the point. "Exactly what my little proposition comes to," said Macnooder affably. "Tear it up, Al, you'll do it sooner or later so why not now?" "What's the flim-flam?" said Al, who recognized in Macnooder qualities of a superior intelligence. "I don't like the word," said Macnooder in a pained tone. "I've got an idea and you're going to buy it. Al, the Jigger Shop has had a cinch, a monopoly, a trust. You fixed prices and you've controlled the output. Now answer me, yes or no. Have you ever paid out one cent in commissions?" "Get to the point." "I will. I have an idea, I might say a brilliant idea and when I say I like the idea better than any idea I can remember--you know me--I'm modest, but Al, it's a wonder. You'll like it. No, change that line, you may not like it but you'll respect it. Al, I'm going to let you in, give you the first chance. Conover would double the commission. Appleby would go wild over it. But, Al, I'm giving _you_ the first chance." "Nineteen dollars and seventy-two cents," said Al, making a motion to close his ears.