"I took them taters home 'n' put 'm in muh trunk, locked it 'n' put th' key in muh pocket 's I allus do. Now what yu' think happened?" he halted, and surveyed the atmosphere with serene contempt. "That low down li'l' nigga in th' room wi' me, sneaks int' that trunk wid a duplicate key, 'n' steal eve' last one'm! _Jes' think of it!_" he emphasized, with a terrible gesture. "_Stole eve' las' one uv'm! Then talk about nigga's!_" "We did'n' say nothin' 'bout nigga's would'n' steal, man!" complained Ferguson. "You jes' nache'lly went offa yo' noodle widout 'casion." During all this conversation, a girl sat opposite Sidney. She was a dark, sweet-faced maiden, with an expression that was inviting. Sidney, happening to glance for the first time into her face, smiled and nodded. She smiled back pleasantly. Ferguson and Thurman continued their harrangue. "They are a pair," ventured Sidney, to no one in particular, but the girl smiled and inquired: "Who are they?" "I never saw them before," he replied. She observed him closely, and said presently, in a very demure voice: "Indeed. Ah--then--you don't live here?" "No," he answered, and told her. "O-oh, my," she echoed tremulously. "It must be fine away up in the great northwest. And--do you expect to be here--er, some time?" "For a few months at least." Whereupon she inquired as to his business, and he likewise inquired of hers. "I am employed in service," she said. Now it happened that Sidney had, a few months before, met an agent in Dayton, who persisted in canvassing nowhere else but among this class. He thought of this, and made inquiry. He was told in reply, that practically all the domestics were colored. "I would like to see the book you sell," she said, presently. "If you could bring it to the number where I am employed, and if, after seeing it I am pleased with it, I would buy one." He could not have wished for anything better, and told her so. Elevating his eye brows in pleased delight, he said: "I most assuredly will. Only tell me how I may get there--I'll make a note of it," and he immediately did so. "Catch a Plum Street car," she directed, "and get off at West Eleventh Street, walk a block and a half west until you see a large house numbered 40. They are Jews, so, should you lose the number, inquire for Hershes'. You may call any time after two P.M." "I will be there tomorrow at that hour if the sun rises, and if it doesn't, I'll be there anyway," he laughed. She was amused. "All right," she said, and took her leave. * * * * * The next day was beautiful; the sun shone brightly, and the air was soft and fragrant. Plum Street, besides being the leading business thoroughfare, is likewise the most imposing resident district, at its extreme end. Large cars, modern and built of steel, thread their way, not only to the city limits, but they penetrate far into the country beyond.