Over the stock-market idea Bob could work up no enthusiasm—­he knew too much about it—­and, inasmuch as horse-racing was no longer fashionable, opportunities for a Pittsburg Phil future seemed limited.  Moreover, he had never saved a jockey’s life nor a jockey’s mother from eviction, hence feed-box tips were not likely.  Nor did he know a single soul in the business of inventing rat-traps or shoe-buttons.  As for going West, he was clearly of the opinion that a search for abandoned gold-mines or forgotten waterfalls wasn’t in his line; and the secret of creosoting railroad-ties, now that he came to think of it, was still locked up in the breast of its affluent discoverer.  Besides, as the whole episode had occurred in the second act of a play, the safety of building upon it was doubtful at best.

No, evidently the well-recognized short cuts to wealth had all been obliterated by many feet, and he must find another.  But where?  At length Bob’s wrinkled brow smoothed itself, and he nodded.  His path was plain; it led around the nearest corner to his tailor’s door.

Mr. Kurtz’s greeting was warm as Bob strolled into the stately show-room with its high-backed Flemish-oak chairs, its great carved tables, its paneled walls with their antlered decorations.  This, it may be said, was not a shop, not a store where clothes were sold, but a studio where men’s distinctive garments were draped, and the difference was perfectly apparent on the first of each month.

Bob gave Ying his freedom, to the great interest of the proprietor, who studied the dog’s points with a practised eye.

“Kurtz,” began Bob, abruptly, “I just bet Dick Cady five thousand dollars that I can make my own living for six months.”  This falsehood troubled him vaguely until he remembered that high finance must be often conducted behind a veil.

Mr. Kurtz, genial, shrewd, gray, raised admiring eyes from the capering puppy and said: 

“I’ll take another five thousand.”

But Bob declined.  “No, I’m going to work.”

This announcement interested the tailor deeply.  “Who’s going to hire you?” he asked.

“You are.”

Kurtz blinked.  “Maybe you’d like to bet on that, too,” he ventured.  “I’ll give you odds.”

“Work is one of the few things I haven’t tried.  You need a good salesman.”

“No, I don’t.  I have seven already.”

“Say, wouldn’t you like the trade of the whole younger set?  I can bring you a lot of fresh customers—­fellows like me.”

“‘Fresh customers’ is right,” laughed Kurtz, then sobered quickly.  “You’re joking, of course?”

“I’m so serious I could cry.  How much is it worth to you to make clothes for my crowd?”

“Well—­” the tailor considered.  “Quite a bit.”

“The boys like to see Dick trimmed—­it’s a matter of principle with them never to let him win a bet—­and they’d do anything for me.  You’re the best tailor in the city, but too conservative.  Now I’m going to bring you fifty new accounts, every one good for better than two thousand a year.  That’s a hundred thousand dollars.  How much am I offered?  Going!  Going!—­”