Part 49 (2/2)

CHAPTER XXIV.

HAL IN A NEW ROLE.

Instead of continuing toward the East River, d.i.c.k Ferris soon turned northward and presently reached Grand Street.

This neighborhood was entirely new to Hal, and he was at once satisfied that the tall boy was not going to pay a visit to Tommy Macklin.

Pa.s.sing down Grand Street, Ferris presently came to a tall, white building, with a large open hall-way, the entrance to which was covered on either side with signs.

Entering the hall-way, Ferris mounted the stairs to the third floor, and then pa.s.sed to a small office in the rear.

Hal was not far behind, and he had no difficulty in locating the apartment Ferris entered.

The upper part of the office door contained a ground-gla.s.s panel, upon which was painted in black letters:

ROBERT E. HAMILTON, FINE LAW AND BLANK PRINTING.

For a second Hal studied how to get into the place, but soon an idea struck him, and he lost no time in entering.

He saw Ferris in earnest conversation at a small counter, which ran across the office, which was narrow but quite deep. Hal edged up and listened to what pa.s.sed between the tall youth and a man in charge.

Ferris had a number of slips in his hand, and these the proprietor was examining with great care.

”You wish all of them duplicated?” he asked.

”Yes,” replied d.i.c.k Ferris.

”It's a nice piece of work.”

”I suppose it is, but the firm is willing to pay for it.”

”Who are the blanks for?”

”Mr. Albert Schwartz. But I am to call for them.”

”I do not know the gentleman.”

”I will leave a deposit on the work,” replied Ferris, promptly.

”Oh, all right! And how many of each of these blanks do you want?”

”Twenty of each.”

”What! No more?”

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