"How much of a deposit would you require?"
"The wholesale price of the goods taken out—say about fifty dollars up."
"And how about the cost of getting around?"
"Well, I allow a dollar a day to experienced agents for expenses. But a green hand would have to pay his own way. I have to protect myself in that way, or otherwise some loafers would just start out to get the dollar, without doing anything for it."
"I suppose that is so," returned Ralph, thoughtfully. "I will think over the matter, and perhaps I'll come back later on."
"All right. I can lend you an outfit, on security, so if you do not make a go of the business you will not be out of pocket a great deal."
"Thank you," returned the boy.
It was now half-past four, and the list of factories was about exhausted. Three more stores remained. Ralph visited them in quick succession, only to receive the old answer—no new help wanted.
"I'll go back to Mr. Dunham's, and tell him I'll go to work distributing those circulars in the morning," said Ralph to himself. "And after that job is done, if nothing more definite turns up, I'll try peddling those goods to the small stationery and general stores."
He hurried back to the store where sporting goods were sold. As he entered he saw Dock Brady at the back counter.