with you, for we've heard all about you."

Proprietor Ashby fidgeted at the side, while the eight departing guests
paused long enough to make their names known to each other.

Jim Duff had vanished early, leaving the hotel man to his own
humiliation.

The introductions concluded, Hawkins followed the young engineers to
their room while the drummers went to their own more costly quarters and
hastily packed their belongings.

Fifteen minutes later the party stood in the office and porters were
bringing down trunks. Tom and Harry, keeping most of their belongings
at camp, had only suit cases to carry.

"Gentlemen, I think you are making a mistake," began Mr. Ashby, as he
met the salesmen in the lobby near the clerk's desk.

"We made a mistake in coming here," retorted the leader of the salesmen,
pleasantly as to tone, "but we're rectifying it now. Are our bills
ready?"

The proprietor went behind the desk to make change, while the clerk
receipted seven bills. Ashby's hands shook as he manipulated the money.

"Dobson," he said, in a low tone to one of the drummers, "I had intended
ordering a ton of hams from you. Now, of course, I can't--"

"Quite right," nodded Mr. Dobson cheerfully. "You couldn't get them