room, he learned something of the business going on from the conversation of some callers there.
It appeared that the concern sold book outfits to canvassers on a conditional salary guarantee. From what Frank gleaned very few ever made good, so the chief revenue of the company came from the original outfit sale.
Finally Frank was called into Mr. Morton's office. The latter looked him over with an urbane smile.
"Came in response to our advertisement for agents, I suppose?" he inquired.
"Not at all," replied Frank. "It is solely on personal business. I came to see you, sir—about your old business at Riverton."
Mr. Morton shrugged his shoulders impatiently, as though the reminder was unpleasant.
"Bills?" he growled out. "Thought I'd settled everything—sick of the whole business, and threw it up in the air for good. Go on."
"Why," said Frank, "I sort of represent the people who bought the salvage from the fire insurance folks."
"I have nothing to do with that."
"Among the debris there was a zinc box with some of your papers in it."
