"Customers like you," answered Paul.
Jim laughed.
"You didn't catch me that time you lost your basket," he said.
"That was a mean trick," said Paul, indignantly.
"You don't want to hire me to sell for you, do you?"
"That's where you're right. I don't."
"I'd like to go into the business."
"You'd better open a second-hand clothing store," suggested Paul,
glancing at his companion's ragged attire.
"Maybe I will," said Jim with a grin, "if you'll buy of me."
"I don't like the style," said Paul. "Who's your tailor?"
"He lives round in Chatham street. Say, can't you lend a fellow
a couple of shillin' to buy some breakfast?"
"Have you done any work to-day?"
"No."
"Then you can't expect to eat if you don't work."
"I didn't have no money to start with."
"Suppose you had a quarter, what would you do?"
"I'd buy a ten-cent plate of meat, and buy some evenin' papers
with the rest."
"If you'll do that, I'll give you what you ask for."
"You'll give me two shillin'?" repeated Jim, incredulously, for
he remembered how he had wronged Paul.
"Yes," said Paul. "Here's the money;" and he drew a
twenty-five-cent piece from his vest pocket, and handed it to
Jim.
"You give me that after the mean trick I played you?" said Jim.
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