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swim down here, and asked me to pick up a good man
cheap. A young, pushing man with plenty of snap about
him. Parker spoke of you, and that brought me here
to-night. We can only offer you a beggarly five
hundred to start with.'

"'Five hundred a year!' I shouted.

"'Only that at the beginning; but you are to have an
overriding commission of one per cent on all business
done by your agents, and you may take my word for it
that this will come to more than your salary.'

"'But I know nothing about hardware.'

"'Tut, my boy; you know about figures.'

"My head buzzed, and I could hardly sit still in my
chair. But suddenly a little chill of doubt came upon
me.

"'I must be frank with you,' said I. 'Mawson only
gives me two hundred, but Mawson is safe. Now,
really, I know so little about your company that--'

"'Ah, smart, smart!' he cried, in a kind of ecstasy of
delight. 'You are the very man for us. You are not
to be talked over, and quite right, too. Now, here's
a note for a hundred pounds, and if you think that we
can do business you may just slip it into your pocket
as an advance upon your salary.'

"'That is very handsome,' said I. 'When should I take
over my new duties?'

"'Be in Birmingham to-morrow at one,' said he. 'I have
a note in my pocket here which you will take to my
brother. You will find him at 126b Corporation
Street, where the temporary offices of the company are
situated. Of course he must confirm your engagement,
but between ourselves it will be all right.'

"'Really, I hardly know how to express my gratitude,
Mr. Pinner,' said I.

"'Not at all, my boy. You have only got your deserts.
There are one or two small things--mere
formalities--which I must arrange with you. You have
a bit of paper beside you there. Kindly write upon it
"I am perfectly willing to act as business manager to
the Franco-Midland Hardware Company, Limited, at a
minimum salary of L500."'

"I did as he asked, and he put the paper in his pocket.

"'There is one other detail,' said he. 'What do you
intend to do about Mawson's?'

"I had forgotten all about Mawson's in my joy. 'I'll
write and resign,' said I.

"'Precisely what I don't want you to do. I had a row
over you with Mawson's manager. I had gone up to ask
him about you, and he was very offensive; accused me
of coaxing you away from the service of the firm, and
that sort of thing. At last I fairly lost my temper.
"If you want good men you should pay them a good
price," said I.'

"'He would rather have our small price than your big
one,' said he.

"'I'll lay you a fiver,' said I, 'that when he has my
offer you'll never so much as hear from him again.'

"'Done!' said he. 'We picked him out of the gutter,
and he won't leave us so easily.' Those were his very
words."

"'The impudent scoundrel!' I cried. 'I've never so
much as seen him in my life. Why should I consider
him in any way? I shall certainly not write if you
would rather I didn't.

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