"Good-morning," returned the gentleman. "Have you found something else to polish up here to-day?"
"No, sir, but I wanted to ask you if you would sign your name here in my book," the boy replied.
Mr. Harris looked amused. "Come into my office," he said, "and tell me what it is that you want."
Theodore followed him across the outer office to the private room beyond. The clerks cast curious glances after the two, and Hammond scowled as he bent over his desk.
"Now let me see your book," said Mr. Harris, as the door of the office swung silently behind them.
Theo laid his rags and paste box on the carpet, and then put the blank book on the desk as he said, earnestly,
"You see, sir, I'm trying to work up a reg'lar business, an' so I want the business men I work for to engage me by the month to take care of their brass work--an' I guess I did learn a lesson here yesterday, for to-day I've asked every gentleman who has engaged me to sign his name in this book--See?"
He turned over the leaves and showed three names on the second page.
"And you want my name there, too? But I haven't engaged you. I only gave you a job yesterday."
"But your janitor has engaged me," answered Theodore, quickly.