“Yes, sir.”

“Let me introduce myself then. My name is Sylvanus Snodgrass, and I occupy the small room across the hall.”

“I am glad to see you, Mr. Snodgrass. Won’t you sit down? You will excuse my sitting on the bed as I have but one chair.”

“It is the same in my room. May I ask your name?”

“Ben Bruce.”

“Excuse me, but are you literary?”

“Not at all,” answered Ben, rather surprised.

“You have a good name for an author, both names beginning with the same letter.”

“Are you literary, Mr. Snodgrass?”

“Yes,” answered the young man complacently. “Do you ever read the Weekly Bugle, a literary paper?”