The Day of Days

ite, trotting by the side of his host, was dwarfed alike in dignity and in physique, strongly r

te was unaware; though as soon as they were alone and private, he grew unpleasantly sensitive to a drop in the temperature of the entente cordiale which had thus far obtained between himself and the gambler. Penfield's eyes promptl

aid he; and drank as

less!" P. Sybarite returned,

isted in the wriest of grimaces. "Fact is-I don't mind telling you-your luck to-night has, I'm afra

m really distressed.... And yet," he added th

" said Penfi

barite ingenuously explained; "it could not be don

aughed dis

remature? You haven't banked that wad yet, you know. Any m

" P. Sybarite retorted with calm convi

asy pose and sitting up with a sharpened gl

?" demanded P. Sybarite, f

with a dangerous smile,

. Sybarite t

a bum loser, I'm willing to stake my last five hundred on the propositi

"If I get away with it, you pay me f

act

l we meet to se

. "Dine with me at the Biz

asure. Otherwise, yo

a ba

te curiously-"perhaps you won't mind explainin

you're willing to come through with a little information. I'm curious to know how

great hurry, whom I much desired to see again, and therefor

man unkno

th; rather fancies himself, I should say: a

enfield murmure

s n

't thank me for

nd how are you going to sep

r. "It desolates me to descend to rough-neck metho

e man, flushing, "P.-by th

mpers, what do you say to a fair proposition: leave me what you have won to-nigh

hook his head

to Penfield's cheeks. "Y

barite replied blandly, "up to the certain point to which we

d sighed profoundly. "I'm sorry. Yo

I advise you against an

gero

e with me, I'll

an inflexion of derision. "I kee

maintenance of a gambling house.

e to submit without

just th

call-button, and simultaneously whipped a revolver into view. "I hope you're not armed," he protes

I take it?" enquired P. Sy

If you know your little book, you'll come thr

gretted pensively-and cast a d

, though curtained, were as indubitably locked and further protected by steel outside blinds. Besides, Penfie

ssumption of confidence in his star-there rang through the house a crash so heavy that its muffled thunder penetrat

s wavered. He punched the

aneous effect of a jack-in-the-box-Pete showe

e yelled. "Run for y

nishe

hock of the assault staggered the gambler, and as he gave ground, reeling, P. Sybarite closed one set of sinewy fingers tight round his right wrist, a

. He was turning up the stairs, three steps and an oath at a bound, by the time P. Sybar

at seven-do

clang followed the disappearance of the gambler. The iron door upstairs had closed, shutting off the second floor from the lower part of the

aid-to be arrested as a common gambler, loaded to the guards w

P. Sybarite

ing beneath a shower of axe-strokes tha

e foolhardy than another. Like a shot down that dark hole he dropped-and brought up with a bang against a closed door at the

hat seemed a servant's bedroom, untenanted. The other introduced him to a kitchen of generous proportions and elaborate appointments-cool, airy, and aglow with glistening white paint and electric lig

y have been downright dismay had the sleeper been conscious. For he was in uniform; and a cap hung on t

ose creatures of Penfield's vaunted vest-pocket crew-invited in for a bite and sup by the steward of the house. The st

f his temper toward the sleeper. Better far to be in

safe and handy in his pocket; then strode in and dr

he cried; and

nd lifted a bemused, red count

ull perception of a s

P. Sybarite ordered sternly. "You

emained cloudy with sleep, drink, and norm

to yourself. This p

to his feet with a cry. "

you don't

eded no other confirmation; and yet-instant by instant it became more clearly apparent that he had drunk too deeply to be abl

e cried. "I'

u're too big a fool to take a word

t's

e it while you slip into one of those waiter's jackets over there. Then

all the same," the m

n dollars. You'll be up to-morrow for absence from post, of course, but that's bet

started to unbutton h

of the boys r

aid! You ought to know that. This is Whitman, going over everybody's head. Anyhow, it

he other thickly, shrugging out

the wall near the door. Seizing one of

arite, the blue coat over his arm, grabbe

ile. Pull yourself together-cut some bread-do

t his money as well-cocked the cap jauntily on one side of his head (a bit too big, it fitted better that way, anyhow) buttoned up, and left the room on the run. For by this time the fr

s-misgivings assailed him. He was physically not much like any policeman he had ever seen; and the blue tunic with its brass buttons was a wretched misfit on his slight body. He doubted whether his disguise would pass unchallenged-doubted so strongl

him, he struggled vio

him roughly. "It ain't

isgust, in patent recognition of his borrowe

so?" demanded the first as

re-gimme a leg over t

the de

out that way. That's what I'm after-to stop 'em. Shut

thes men in a slightly mollified voic

e impostor, leading the way to the easter

stirrup of his clasped hands, but no sooner had P. Sybarite fitted foot to that s

doin' in them pants and

other indignantly. "Impe

tly and peevishly swore, rolled to one side (barely eluding clutches that meant to him all those fri

. Sybarite' stepped quickly to one side and, avoiding the rush of one, directly engaged the other. Ducking beneath a windmill play of arms, he shot a

gonist. Nevertheless, deftly blocking a rain of blows, he closed in as if eager to escape punishment, and planted a lifted knee in

Gazing down upon those two still shapes, so mighty and form

oud-and the next moment, spurred by alert discretion, w

ot a little daunted by its imperturbable mystery, a quick backward glance showed him fi

mbling, he lost balance and sat down with an emphasi

trange voices on the other side of the fence

y all tha

gan, or I

t the tw

d kn

thim murdherous div

ack up tha

he'd landed in a bed of nettles, tore across that terra-inco

tion attended him-a voice roari

spendthrift with sugg

e hurtled onward. Noises in the rear indicated a determined pursuit: once a voice

a Forty-sixth Street residence, his duty-to find a way to the street and a shift from