chair, his action knocking the instruments out of his mouth and almost sending the dentist over backward. Before that worthy could protest or catch him, Speedy dashed wildly from the office and down the stairs and out into the street.
Only when he had gained the pavement and stood there for an instant to watch the mob dispersing in all directions from in front of the scoreboard did he remember the precious flowers for the Envoy lady that were still clutched in his hand. He turned pale. The flowers looked crushed and wilted. He set off rapidly up the street toward Broadway. But he had taken only a few steps when he became aware that a taxi had drawn close to the curb beside him and a man's angry voice was calling his name. He looked over into the stormy face of Mr. Talbott, who had opened the taxi door and was peering out at him.
"I—I was just going to deliver the flowers, Mr. Talbott,' Harold started to explain.
"Just an hour and a half too late," bellowed Talbott. "I thought I'd find you here, when I 'phoned and they said you hadn't arrived yet. Give me those flowers."
"But—but—sir—" Harold stammered, feeling something terrible would happen if he gave up the flowers. Nevertheless, as Talbott held out his hand demandingly, Speedy had to turn them over to him.
"Now I'll tell you that I had duplicates of these flowers sent from the Grand Central Florist Shop three quarters of an hour ago," said the office manager crisply. "As for you, Swift, you're fired. And
