Part 50 (1/2)
”No. Next year we are going to have an entirely new set. If you do these right, Mr. Schwartz says he may give you the new work.”
”I'll do them in the best style. How soon do you want them?”
”As soon as possible. We are in a great hurry for them.”
”In two days do?”
”Oh, yes!”
”Very well. They will cost thirty-six dollars.”
”As much as that?”
”Yes. I will have to take my workmen from another job, and we always charge a little more for a rush.”
”How much of a deposit shall I leave?”
”Five dollars will do.”
”Then here you are.”
d.i.c.k Ferris pulled a five-dollar bill from his pocket, and, after receiving his receipt, walked out of the office.
He glanced at Hal as he pa.s.sed, but our hero's back was turned to him, and Hal seemed to be interested in some prints which hung upon the wall.
”Now, sir, what can I do for you?” questioned the proprietor, turning to Hal.
He left the slips Ferris had brought lying upon the counter.
”I would like to know how much you charge for printing wedding invitations,” replied Hal, approaching the counter where the slips lay.
”Wedding invitations, eh?” The proprietor smiled. ”Here is a young man about to get married,” he thought. ”By his looks, I think, he wants something rather nice.”
”Yes, sir,” said Hal.
”With an engraved plate, I suppose?”
”Of course.”
”I'll show you our book of specimens.”
The man turned away to where a number of books were lying upon a side desk. As he did so, Hal carelessly picked up the slips Ferris had left and examined them.
He could make nothing of them, excepting that one had the words: ”Bonds of the Second Cla.s.s, receivable,” printed across its face, and another, ”Sumner, Allen & Co. Transfer Slip of Limited Calls, December.”
”Here you are,” said the man, coming up with one of the books, and he gathered up the slips and put them away with a memorandum.
Hal looked over the book, and noted down the prices of several styles of invitations.
”I do not want to order,” he said. ”I merely wanted the prices.”