"No one; but I have a letter of introduction."
"Oh, you have! Hand it out!"
Doodles made no move toward his pocket.
"I wish to give it to Mr. Randolph himself," he said gently.
"Well, you can't see him. He's busy now."
"I will wait," replied the boy, and took a chair.
The clerk went behind the railing and sat down at a desk.
Doodles looked out on the street and watched the passers. Occasionally his eyes would wander back to the office and over the array of men and women bent to their work, then they would return to the wide doorway. He felt that he had small chance to speak with Mr. Randolph until he should go to luncheon, and that, he argued to himself, would not be a very good time to present his business. He wished that the unpleasant young clerk would go first—he would like to try some other.
Men and women came and went, some of them disappearing in the rear, where, undoubtedly, was the man he sought. If only he dared follow! Finally the offensive youth came out through the gate and over to where he sat.
"Here, you kid," he began in an insolent tone, "you've hung round here long enough! Now beat it!"