He walked a little beyond the Astor
House, and, crossing Broadway, turned down Fulton Street.
On the left side of the street his attention was drawn to a restaurant,
and he was led by the prompting of appetite to enter.
The prices he found to be reasonable, and the tables were already pretty
well filled with clerks and business men, who were partaking of their
midday lunch.
Frank found that a plate of meat, with potato and a small supply of
bread and butter, could be obtained for fifteen cents.
He afterward found restaurants where the same could be gotten for ten
cents, but generally there was a deficiency in quality or quantity, and
there was less neatness in serving the articles.
Seated at the same table with Frank were two young men, neither probably
much over twenty. One appeared to be filling a regular clerkship.
"What are you doing now, Jack?" he asked of the other.
"I am in the tea business."
"How is that?"
"You know the Great Pekin Tea Company, of course?"
"Yes."
"Well, until I can get a place, I am selling for them."
"How do you make out?"
"I can't tell you, for I have only just commenced," said his friend.
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