"But you couldn't make a living at it?"
"No; I gave it up for several reasons."
"Well, I don't know your reasons, my man," observed Baxter, drily, "but I like your face."
"Thank you," said Ordway, and he laughed again with the sparkling gaiety which leaped first to his blue eyes.
"And so you expect me to take you without knowing a darn thing about you?" demanded Baxter.
Ordway nodded gravely.
"Yes, I hope that is what you will do," he answered.
"I may ask your name, I reckon, mayn't I?—if you have no particular objection."
"I don't mind telling you it's Smith," said Ordway, with his gaze on a huge pamphlet entitled "Smith's Almanac" lying on Baxter's desk. "Daniel Smith."
"Smith," repeated Baxter. "Well, it ain't hard to remember. If I warn't a blamed fool, I'd let you go," he added thoughtfully, "but there ain't much doubt, I reckon, about my being a blamed fool."