Next day Jack was coming along New Street about lunch hour, when he ran into Hartz, the Exchange Place broker.
Hartz was a little, wiry man, with snappy black eyes, and was about as shrewd as you find them down in the financial district.
Ever since the day Jack saved Oliver Bird from taking his own life in the office of the broker, Hartz had taken more or less notice of the boy, which was something unusual for him to do.
As we have already seen, he gave Ed Potter a job entirely on Jack’s recommendation.
“Hello, young man! Who are you running into?” exclaimed the broker, grabbing the boy with both his arms and holding him tight.
“I beg your pardon, Mr. Hartz, but I didn’t see you.”
“No; I’m not quite as big as Bird,” grinned Hartz. “How long have you been on the Street now, Hazard?”
“Six months, sir.”
“Look as if you’d cut your eye teeth by this time. It’s a wonder you don’t get into trouble with that tongue of yours.”
“Why so?” asked Jack, in surprise.