"Yes, sare," grinned Tony. "What you drink?"
Brimmer looked over the stock, selected a bottle of ginger ale and paid for it.
"Business good?" asked the midshipman.
"No, sare; ver' bad," replied Tony sadly.
"Oh, well, it will pick up by-and-by."
"I hope so, sare. But when I come here I think maybe the midsheepmen come see me offen. You, sare, first midsheepman who came here."
"You have a neat little place," continued Brimmer. "And this ginger ale," holding up his glass, "is good. You'll have trade enough by-and-by."
"You tell other midsheepmen they come here, sare?" asked Tony hopefully.
"Why, yes; I think perhaps I can send you a bit of trade," replied Brimmer. The young man's father was a politician, and a prosperous one. The son had learned the wisdom of making friends wherever he could, since there could be no telling when a friend anywhere might be useful.
"You come with me, sare," urged Tony, taking a gentle hold on
Brimmer's arm, and leading him to the rear of the store.