Gilbert, on the whole, succeeded beyond his anticipations. Probably his appearance was in his favor, and attracted customers. But this was not all. He was quick and alert in manner, and kept a good look-out for trade.
“How many papers have you sold?” asked Jim, after a while.
“Fifty,” answered Gilbert.
“Fifty!” ejaculated Jim; “why, I aint sold but twenty.”
“You haven’t attended to business as closely as I have.”
“Ef it hadn’t been for you I’d have sold a good many more.”
“That isn’t the reason. You would have sold as many as I if you had tried as hard.”
“It’s mean, a boy like you comin’ down, and takin’ away a poor boy’s business.”
“I shan’t sell papers any longer than I have to. I hope next week to go into something else.”
Just then a gentleman inquired for a paper which Gilbert was out of.