“I’m not chasing copy any more,” replied Larry. “I’m a regular reporter.”
“That’s worse,” went on Peter. “You never know when you’re through working. Now I finish by three o’clock every day, and have the rest of the time to myself.”
“Does your firm do much business?” asked Larry.
“You bet. And say, it’s going to do more. If you came in with us now I could put you on to a good thing. There’s going to be a big raise in land values in a certain locality in a little while, and our firm’s going to make a lot of money.”
“Where is the land?” asked Larry, carelessly.
“Don’t you wish you knew?” sneered Peter. “I’m not telling everyone. But, if you like, I’ll speak to Mr. Perkins for you.”
“You might,” said Larry, thinking it would be no harm to get as much information as possible. “I’d like to make some money.”
During this time the two youths had been standing in front of the cigar store. Larry was thinking it was about time for him to move on, as he did not want to arouse Peter’s suspicions by too many questions, when a short, stout, and dark-complexioned man came hurrying around the corner.
“I was afraid you’d gone,” the man said to Peter.
“No, I was talking with a friend of mine,” replied the former copy boy on the Leader. “Are you through?”