Beta Book

"
"Yes, I see," Mr. Wrenn observed, as though he were ill, and
toed an old almanac about the floor. "Uh--Mr.--Trubiggs, is it?"
"Yump. Yump, my boy. Trubiggs. Tru by name and true by
nature. Heh?"
This last was said quite without conviction. It was evidently
a joke which had come down from earlier years. Mr. Wrenn
ignored it and declared, as stoutly as he could:
"You see, Mr. Trubiggs, I'd be willing to pay you--"
"I'll tell you just how it is, Mr. Wrenn. I ain't one of these
Sheeny employment bureaus; I'm an American; I like to look out
for Americans. Even if you _didn't_ come to me first I'll watch
out for your interests, same's if they was mine. Now, do you
want to get fixed up with a nice fast boat that leaves Portland
next Saturday, just a couple of days' wait?"
"Oh yes, I _do_, Mr. Trubiggs."
"Well, my list is really full--men waiting, too--but if it 'd be
worth five dollars to you to--"
"Here's the five dollars."
The shipping-agent was disgusted. He had estimated from Mr.


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