coat and an annoying collar. His big comely face was flushed; he frowned, wiped his brow as he talked; and his general air was one of complaint. He made it clear that he acted under pressure. "I can't take much time to this," he said, looking at his watch as the two seated themselves near the railing. "I got an appointment pretty soon, and I don't know as there's rightly long enough to talk the proposition over with you the way it ought to be. I promised this gentleman—I don't know his name; but one of these Turkish Jew jewellery men introduced me to him and he's been to call on me a couple o' times—well, anyhow, he said he wanted to come and get me and introduce me to some Lord High Muck-a-Muck Grand Panjandrum they got here, I don't know who; but he's some kind of Persian king or other—I couldn't make out what. Anyway, I put on these clothes, and they're too warm for the weather." He glanced down with distaste upon his excellent attire, and ineffectively fanned himself with the silk hat. "Mrs. Tinker made me wear 'em," he explained discontentedly. "She don't know any more what it's all about than I do; but she was bound I had to." He lighted a cigar slowly, taking all the time he could; then he said: "Well, John Edwards tells me he's got every-
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