“Take that to the city editor this instant, you imp, and say that the gentleman wishes to see him on business, or I’ll throw you out of that window.”
Somewhat frightened by Myles’ tone the boy left the room muttering:
“A fine gentleman he is, ain’t he! A-threatening of a chap not half his size.”
In less than a minute he returned with a renewed stock of impudence. Offering the card back to Myles he said:
“The city editor says that he don’t know you, and you’ll have to send word what your business is with him.”
It was too humiliating. Myles could not confide to the grinning figures before him that he was seeking a reporter’s position, and so, muttering some unintelligible words, he turned to leave. He had to wait several minutes for the elevator, and while he did so he could not help overhearing the jeering comments of the two young rascals upon himself. One of them said:
“He’s out of a job, that feller is, and he came here to offer hisself as boss editor.”
“Naw, he didn’t neither,” drawled the other. “He ain’t after no such common posish as that. What he wants is your place or mine. But he’s too young, and fresh, he is. He wouldn’t suit. No, sir-e-e.” And then the two little wretches exploded with laughter at their own wit.