“All the way down the aisle and around the corner,” Harry made polite answer. The man rushed off in the direction indicated, only to return three minutes later, looking black as a thundercloud.
“See here, young man, what do you mean? I ask you for a book called ‘Running Water’ and you send me on a wild goose chase clear out of the department.”
Harry’s look of blank amazement made the man angrier.
“I’ll report you, you young rascal. I’ll——”
“I didn’t know you meant a book, sir. I thought you wanted a drink of water. I’m not in this department, but I’ll find a salesperson for you.”
Harry’s tone was gravely respectful, although he had hard work to keep from laughing. The absurdity of the situation had dawned upon him.
The man’s face relaxed suddenly into a wide grin. “Oh, ha, ha! Ha, ha! That’s a funny one! All right, boy, you get me a clerk. I’ll wait here. Running water! Ha, ha!”
“That was a narrow escape,” smiled Harry to himself as, after securing the desired saleswoman, he hurried back to his desk. “I seem to be unlucky to-day. I hope I won’t get into any more mixups.”
The afternoon brought its own crosses, however. Harry did not have an opportunity to go to lunch until after two o’clock. When he returned to the department, he was scolded and hustled here and there by Mr. Barton until he was ready to cry with sheer vexation.