CHAPTER II.
The multitude of legs, engaged by the pair in the service of Valentine, King & Co., were distinguished from each other by a bit of house slang.
I was known as "last legs" among my companions for some time after my initiation to the warehouse.

At first I was inclined to resent the reduction of my individuality to such a vulgar formula, but as I became inured to hard tasks the sharpness of this indignity wore away.
There was one pair of legs doing service for the firm whose owner became my most valued friend and confidant.

In his business capacity he was called "long legs," but his proper name was Philbert Chaffin.

He was a tall, slim boy, with blue eyes and light hair, the son of a stage carpenter, who was employed at one of the cheap theatres and who lived within a stone's throw of my lodgings.

His language was a unique combination of bad grammar and provincial brogue; but every boy in the warehouse allowed that he was a good fellow.