Mr. Meyer did not appear to be tickled to death by this attention, but he followed the boy up the stairs without making any further protest.
Neilson was working on the police cuts when they entered the room. He looked up suspiciously at his vis[Pg 57]itors. Carroll had warned him to be strictly on his guard while the snapshots were in his possession.
“Here’s a gent who wants to do some business with you. Mr. Neilson,” Miggsy announced. And then, greatly to Meyer’s relief, the boy went downstairs, leaving him alone with the photo-engraver.
The visitor lost no time in getting down to business. There was no telling when the boy or somebody else might come into the room, and Mr. Meyer was exceedingly averse to saying what he had to say to Neilson in the presence of a third party. At no time in his life had he felt more inclined to indorse the old saying that “two is company, three is a crowd,” than at this minute.
“I want some cuts made,” he began. “I am getting out a leedle advertising circular for my wine and liquor business. Here iss one of the pictures which I wish made into a cut.”
He drew a small oblong of saffron-hued paper from his pocket, and held it before Neilson’s eyes.
“Why, that ban a fifty-dollar bill,” exclaimed Neilson in astonishment.
Mr. Meyer took from his pocket another slip of paper. “And here, mein friend, is another leedle picture which I wish made into a cut,” he announced.
The engraver’s eyes opened wider. “That ban a hundred-dollar bill!” he exclaimed.
“Nefer mind what they are, mein friend,” said Meyer. “I want them both made into cuts for mein leedle advertising circular. You can do it—yes?”