“That’s us,” he said pointing to the name.

“If it’s a commodity, we’re interested,” said George Winston with a broad smile.

“Interested, that is, if the price is right,” countered Frederick Hinson.

“True enough partner, true enough,” said Winston shaking his head. “Nothing like a partner with sense, you know, Mr. Theyden. And Frederick has it in spades.

“I, for myself, am a numbers man. I keep the books for the firm—“

“And keep them he does,” interrupted Hinson. “You haven’t seen books like this partner of mine is capable of. A real genius he is at them.

“Why that man there has been known to chase down an error when the books don’t balance by a mere couple of cents. And he’s spent all evening doing it. So not only are the books impeccable, but they speak to the doggedness of this man, the integrity of this man right here—this man who I call my partner.”

“Well,” said Mr. Winston, “I always say, ‘If you can’t trust the books, what can you trust?’”

“Well said, partner,” said Mr. Hinson. “Well, said.” And he put his hands together and clapped them softly.

Mr. Winston beamed at the approval expressed of him by his partner and ended up so overcome with the sentiment that he thrust his hand out and said, “Well, let’s shake on it, partner.” And Mr. Hinson and Mr. Winston both shook each other’s hands vigorously.

David had spoken to them some more but got bored with the talk of commodities. He liked the two men but the subject matter of their conversation did not interest him.

He finally excused himself. But as he walked away, he heard Mr. Winston say something complimentary about Mr. Hinson and he heard a hearty, “Well, let’s shake on it partner,” from Mr. Hinson. Turning back, he saw them shaking each other’s hands as vigorously as they had before.