"I have been recommended here by my friend Tod Duncan, and he speaks very highly of you." The face of the little tailor was again wreathed in smiles, as he delightedly inquired: "Do you mean Duncan, the traveling man from Des Moines ?" "Yes," replied Manning, "that's the man; I am a traveling man myself, but in a different line, and I expected to meet him in this city, but I was disappointed.

I guess he must have got ahead of me." "Let me see," said Mr.Griswold, with his needle-pricked finger pressed against his nose.

"He was here about two weeks ago, I guess." "Do you know which way he was going ?" "I think he said he was going to St.Paul.I made a suit of clothes for him in a great hurry, as he was very anxious to get away." "What kind of a suit did he get ?" asked Manning, now anxious to learn the clothing of the man, in order that he might the more accurately describe him.
"It was from this piece," said Mr.Griswold, throwing on the table a roll of dark green cassimere.

"That is one of the latest importations, and as fine a piece of goods as I have in the house." "I like that myself," said the detective.

"Would you object to giving me a small piece of it as a sample?
I want to show it to a friend of mine at the hotel, who has pretty good taste in such matters." "Of course not," replied Mr.Griswold, as he clipped off a piece of the cloth, little dreaming of the use to which the detective would put it.
Declining to make a selection until he had sought the advice of an imaginary friend, and stating that he would probably call again in the evening, Manning took his leave of the little tailor.