CHAPTER VI.

MR. PITCH, THE SENIOR PARTNER.





"Come in," said a loud voice.

Ben opened the door and entered.

He found himself in a square room, almost bare of furniture. In an
office chair at a table sat a dark-complexioned man of near forty.
He appeared to be reading the morning paper.

"Is this the office of Fitch & Ferguson?" inquired Ben.

A glance at Ben's carpetbag indicated that he had come in answer to
the advertisement, and he was received very graciously.

"Come in," said the man in the chair, smiling affably. "This is the
office of Fitch & Ferguson. I am Mr. Fitch."

"My name is Stanton-Ben Stanton," said our hero. "I wrote you from