"Of course, and here's my man at last. Mr. Klinkhammer, permit me to introduce you to Mr. Taylor's representative; I have had quite a talk with him while waiting for you, and have promised that he shall keep his place, in case we succeed in buying out the establishment."
Jake took the cue in an instant.
"Glad to see you, sir," he said. "Like your looks, sir. Shall pe wery glad to 'ave you vid us."
Then seating himself, and coolly appropriating the barkeeper's glass, and filling it from the bottle, he asked, after taking a good swallow:
"Vhere vos Mesther Taylor?"
"That I don't know," answered the barkeeper. "I have just been explaining to Mr. ——, your friend here, how it is that I have seen very little of him for the past few days."
"Has he been out uv town?" asked Jake, carelessly.
"Not that I know of," was the answer. "But he might have gone to Boston or Halifax, and I be none the wiser."
"I see, I see. He goes und comes schust when he bleases, und leaves you here to run der shebang."
"Exactly so, sir."