gladly do a favour, for he is always so willing to do favours for
others, but I was thinking nothing of this when I stepped from my
office at exactly five o'clock yesterday evening. I was thinking
of nothing but getting home to dinner as soon as possible, and
was just stepping into the elevator when Lemuel laid his hand
gently on my arm.

"I beg yo' pahdon, Mistah Billings," he said politely, "but
would yo' do me a favour?"

"Certainly, Lemuel," I said; "how much can I lend you?"

"'Tain't that, sah," he said. "I wish t' have a word or two in
private with yo'. Would yo' mind steppin' back into yo' office
until I git these folks out of th' buildin', so's I can speak to
yo'?"

I knew I had still half an hour before my six-two train, and I
was not unwilling to do Lemuel a favour, so I went back to my
office as he desired, and waited there until he appeared, which
was not until he had taken all the tenants down in his elevator.
Then he opened the door and came in. With him was the young man I
had often seen in the office next to mine, as I passed, and a
young woman on whom I had never set my eyes before. No sooner had
they opened the door than the young man began to speak, and
Lemuel stood unobtrusively to one side.

"Mr. Billings," said the young man, "you may think it strange
that I should come to you in this way when you and I are hardly
acquaintances, but I have often observed you passing my door, and