“Good day, my young friend,” he said, with suavity.

“Good day, Mr. Denton,” responded Linton, who thought it due to himself to be polite, though he did not fancy Mr. Denton.

“I should be very glad to have you look in at my billiard-room, Mr. Linton,” continued Tony.

“Thank you sir, but I don’t think my father would like to have me visit a billiard-saloon—­at any rate, till I am older.”

“Oh, I’ll see that you come to no harm.  If you don’t want to play, you can look on.”

“At any rate, I am obliged to you for your polite invitation.”

“Oh, I like to have the nice boys of the village around me.  Your friend Randolph Duncan often visits me.”

“So I have heard,” replied Linton.

“Well, I won’t keep you, but remember my invitation.”

“I am not very likely to accept,” thought Linton.  “I have heard that Randolph visits the billiard-room too often for his good.”

CHAPTER XXXVII

AN INCIDENT ON THE CARS

As soon as possible, Luke started on his return to New York.  He had enjoyed his journey, but now he felt a longing to see home and friends once more.  His journey to Chicago was uneventful.  He stayed there a few hours, and then started on his way home.  On his trip from Chicago to Detroit he fell in with an old acquaintance unexpectedly.

When about thirty miles from Detroit, having as a seatmate a very large man, who compressed him within uncomfortable limits, he took his satchel, and passing into the car next forward, took a seat a few feet from the door.  He had scarcely seated himself when, looking around, he discovered, in the second seat beyond, his old Chicago acquaintance, Mr. J. Madison Coleman.  He was as smooth and affable as ever, and was chatting pleasantly with a rough, farmerlike-looking man, who seemed very much taken with his attractive companion.

“I wonder what mischief Coleman is up to now?” thought Luke.

He was so near that he was able to hear the conversation that passed between them.

“Yes, my friend,” said Mr. Coleman, “I am well acquainted with Detroit.  Business has called me there very often, and it will give me great pleasure to be of service to you in any way.”

“What business are you in?” inquired the other.

“I am traveling for H. B. Claflin & Co., of New York.  Of course you have heard of them.  They are the largest wholesale dry-goods firm in the United States.”

“You don’t say so!” returned the farmer respectfully.  “Do you get pretty good pay?”

“I am not at liberty to tell just what pay I get,” said Mr. Coleman, “but I am willing to admit that it is over four thousand dollars.”

“You don’t say so!” ejaculated the farmer.  “My!  I think myself pretty lucky when I make a thousand dollars a year.”

“Oh, well, my dear sir, your expenses are very light compared to mine.  I spend about ten dollars a day on an average.”