“Abey,” he said, “you will have to take Mr. Platt around to-night and show him things.  They are customers for ten years.  Mr. Navarro and I we played chess every moment of spare time when he came.  That is good, but Mr. Platt is a young man and this is his first visit to New York.  He should amuse easily.”

“All right,” said Abey, screwing the guard tightly on his pin.  “I’ll take him on.  After he’s seen the Flatiron and the head waiter at the Hotel Astor and heard the phonograph play ‘Under the Old Apple Tree’ it’ll be half past ten, and Mr. Texas will be ready to roll up in his blanket.  I’ve got a supper engagement at 11:30, but he’ll be all to the Mrs. Winslow before then.”

The next morning at 10 Platt walked into the store ready to do business.  He had a bunch of hyacinths pinned on his lapel.  Zizzbaum himself waited on him.  Navarro & Platt were good customers, and never failed to take their discount for cash.

“And what did you think of our little town?” asked Zizzbaum, with the fatuous smile of the Manhattanite.

“I shouldn’t care to live in it,” said the Texan.  “Your son and I knocked around quite a little last night.  You’ve got good water, but Cactus City is better lit up.”

“We’ve got a few lights on Broadway, don’t you think, Mr. Platt?”

“And a good many shadows,” said Platt.  “I think I like your horses best.  I haven’t seen a crow-bait since I’ve been in town.”

Zizzbaum led him up stairs to show the samples of suits.

“Ask Miss Asher to come,” he said to a clerk.

Miss Asher came, and Platt, of Navarro & Platt, felt for the first time the wonderful bright light of romance and glory descend upon him.  He stood still as a granite cliff above the canon of the Colorado, with his wide-open eyes fixed upon her.  She noticed his look and flushed a little, which was contrary to her custom.

Miss Asher was the crack model of Zizzbaum & Son.  She was of the blond type known as “medium,” and her measurements even went the required 38-25-42 standard a little better.  She had been at Zizzbaum’s two years, and knew her business.  Her eye was bright, but cool; and had she chosen to match her gaze against the optic of the famed basilisk, that fabulous monster’s gaze would have wavered and softened first.  Incidentally, she knew buyers.

“Now, Mr. Platt,” said Zizzbaum, “I want you to see these princess gowns in the light shades.  They will be the thing in your climate.  This first, if you please, Miss Asher.”

Swiftly in and out of the dressing-room the prize model flew, each time wearing a new costume and looking more stunning with every change.  She posed with absolute self-possession before the stricken buyer, who stood, tongue-tied and motionless, while Zizzbaum orated oilily of the styles.  On the model’s face was her faint, impersonal professional smile that seemed to cover something like weariness or contempt.