It would only hurt him the more, he thought.

He said instead, his voice conveying what his lips would have uttered: "Do you like it here ?" "Got to." Felix pushed back his chair, stood erect, and with a gesture as if his mind had been made up said: "Would you care to do something else ?" The man dropped his broom and straggled to his feet.

"Can ye give me somethin'?
I been a-tryin' everywhere, but this kind o' work hoodoos a man, and they won't give me no ref'rence 'cause I don't git more'n my board and they don't want to lose me.

And then"-- here he winked meaningly--"I know a thing or two.

But, say, do ye mean it?
I'll go anywhere you want." Felix felt in his pocket, drew out a card, and pencilled his address.
"Come some night--say about eight o'clock.