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 his eyes, asked who they were, and Austin answered that the fat girl was one of his pupils.

"If that large-eyed beauty were a pupil I might apply for a job," said David, but received no answer.

The last day of the holiday, about six, Mr. Johns suddenly presented himself in the little flat.

"Want to talk to you," he said, nodding at Austin and sniffing and grunting. "All right before this gentleman?"

David's gesture seemed to imply that bank presidents often came miles for the privilege of discussing their private affairs in his presence. Austin merely nodded. The fact that his conscience was no longer absolutely clear was shown by the fact that the grunts did not now leave him particularly calm. He wondered rather anxiously what it was that Mr. Johns could have to say.

Too impatient and too easily bored himself to take much time developing his ideas, Mr. Johns flung them out at once—Western banks—chain—affiliations—need of a live young feller—snap—Austin had it—good salary—$15,000—better than teaching school—leave that to Miss Hayes—she'd run it—man's job.