Jed thought privately that his new acquaintance must stand quite as much in need of a place as he, but courtesy led him to say, "Thank you."
"Have you any particular choice as to the business you take up?"
"No; anything that will enable me to pay my expenses will satisfy me."
"Just so. You have heard of H. B. Claflin, probably?"
"Yes; he is a dry goods merchant."
"On a very large scale. I have a mind to give you a letter to him."
"Do you know him?" asked Jed doubtfully.
"Yes; Horace and I used to go to school together. He was older than I, but we were pretty intimate."
"Why don't you apply for a position for yourself?"
"Dry goods are not in my line. I am an editor—that is, an editorial writer."