Theodore walked rapidly on till he reached the business streets where most of the handsome stores and offices were. Then he slackened his pace and went on slowly, glancing keenly at each building until he came to one that had half a dozen brass signs on the front.
"Here's a good place to make a try," he said to himself, and going into the first office on the ground floor he asked as politely as he knew how,
"Can I shine up your brass signs for you?"
There were several young men in the outer office. One of them answered carelessly, "Yes indeed, shine 'em up, boy, and see 't you make a good job of it."
"I will that, sir," responded Theodore, blithely, and set to work with a will.
There had been much wet weather and the signs were badly discoloured. It took hard, steady rubbing for nearly an hour to get them into good shining order, but Theodore worked away vigourously until they gleamed and glittered in the morning sunlight. Then he went again into the office.
"I've finished 'em, sir," he said to the young man to whom he had spoken before, "an' I think I've made a good job of it. Will you step out an' see what you think?"
"Not at all necessary. If you're satisfied, I am," replied the man, bending over his desk and writing rapidly.
Theodore waited in silence. The young man wrote on. Finally he glanced up and remarked in a tone of surprise,
"Oh, you here yet? Thought you'd finished your job."