"Occasionally," replied Summerfield guardedly, for his impression was that Mr. Baker Bates knew very little of art directors or anything else in connection with the art side of advertising life. He might have heard of his present need and be trying to palm off some friend of his, an incompetent, of course, on him. "What makes you ask?"
"Why, Hudson Dula, the manager of the Triple Lithographic Company, was telling me of a man who is connected with the World who might make a good one for you. I know something of him. He painted some rather remarkable views of New York and Paris here a few years ago. Dula tells me they were very good."
"Is he young?" interrupted Summerfield, calculating.
"Yes, comparatively. Thirty-one or two, I should say."
"And he wants to be an art director, does he. Where is he?"
"He's down on the World, and I understand he wants to get out of there. I heard you say last year that you were looking for a man, and I thought this might interest you."
"What's he doing down on the World?"
"He's been sick, I understand, and is just getting on his feet again."
The explanation sounded sincere enough to Summerfield.
"What's his name?" he asked.