The Ne'er-Do-Well

and it was not long before corks were popping and dishes rattling quite as if the young men were really hungry. Mr. Locke, however, insisted that his friends should par

ept Higgins, who commended it fondly; but hi

er strongly. Locke's face whitened, then grew muddy and yellow, his hands trembled, his lips went dry. He half arose from his chair, then cast a

t, so I thought it must

alone,

. What shall

ust it into the fellow's hand, while the loo

Don't let him come up. I

oss the goal line to the tune of thirty thousand yelling throats and his companions were hanging

g, old man?

ng. Remember? Well, there's a man down-stairs who has given the waiter

at

is

he speaker with a s

her. "You see-I just came into a big piece of coin, and I've got it with me. I'm-I'm alone in New

ly, moving as lightly up

y he's

as plain that he w

erously toward the door, but Kirk ste

'll mana

tre-rush. "Locke's a good fellow

obeyed. "If he wants to join

aping nervously from hi

get out

arkling. "We'll give this fellow the thi

ins seconded with

ck. I don't dare get into trouble, don't you understand?

ight," Kirk assured him; and then before the

wered, "and when I ring next send him up. Pass the word to Padden and th

cried the man from St. L

now. You'll have to pass him. S

back into his chair, whil

change names with you for a minute. Now, Ringold, go ahead with your story." Then, as the giant took up his tale again: "Listen to him, fellows; look pleasant, please. Remember you're no

comer paused at a respectful distance inside the door and allowed his eyes to shift uncertainly from one to another as if in doubt as to which was his quarry. Anthony did not dream that it was his own resemblance to

ich to take in the room, Kirk leaned back

ered. "Bring a b

r. Locke, sir?" inqu

" sai

or you, Mr. Locke,"

queried, loud enough

e. They're holding the wire ou

by the throat. The man uttered a startled gasp, but simultaneously the iron grip

to a telephone booth, eh? My

uggle and crowding forward with angry exclamations. Ringold, with th

do up a fello

bs into the stranger's throat, then, as the man's face grew black and his co

m good! Choke him! That's right. Put him out

nodding to Ringold to do likewise, took the fellow's wrists himself, then swung him about until he faced the other

t sound at all like Jefferson Locke, whereupon the Missourian made a rush

d back! I'v

im!" chatter

r gasped. "I'll take you

shouted Locke.

m-an officer;

drenched, his eyes were filled with a stinging liquid; he felt his prisoner sink limply back into his arms and be

friends and crazily anxious to win glory by some deed of valor. At the first opening he had darted

he cried, joyo

n the dead weight in his arms, the lolling head and sagging

it this time,

cried. "Let's ge

way across the room. "Ringold, take the door and don't let anybody in or

s, with vinous dignity. "Wanted to ro

we get in bad," Locke reiterated,

e door and signaled a passing waiter. A moment late

the floor, and, kneeling beside it, made a quick examination, wh

, eh?

ueried Locke, bending

e had his nerve, trying to turn a trick in my place. I thought I knew all the dips, but h

ether and rehearse before the police-" He stopp

uestioned the m

which he had turned back. A nickeled badge was pinned upo

" Higgins exulted.

Jefferson Locke, who became calmer than at any time

e what it costs." He extended a bulky roll of bank-notes toward the gray-haired man. "These boys

ked him," said the proprietor

and dollars to me n

pened and scanned swiftly, then turned his little eyes upon Locke without a word, whereupon that gentleman, with equal silence, took from his i

ay cost you

nd accepted the

He regained his feet, then warned the onlookers: "B

gold, fearfully, his bac

ked meaningly. "It happens right along in this part of town. Do you get me? I'll keep these." He indicated the badge and papers in

eir overcoats Padden drew Locke aside, and, nodd

'clock boat you'd better stick c

rate figure, then inquired in a low

e, if I was you I'd change

when he and his companions were safely out of the Austrian Village, "and I

while Anthony also declared that he had enjoyed himself sufficiently for one night and

you mustn't leave me. I just won't let

"We agreed to put him aboard and we must

to go home," R

sted. "Besides, after my bloody 'ncounter with that lim

to the steamer, and Anthony feared that without his protection some harm might befall his irresponsible and impulsive companion. Candor requires it to be said that he di

st such narrow forkings of the trail may divert him into strange adventurings, or into worlds undreamed of. Kirk Anthony, twenty-six years old, with

ce, and their brains were badly awhirl. Of all the four, Jefferson Locke was the only one who retained his wits to the fullest-a circumstance that would have proved him the owner of a remarkably steady head had it not

night dive; the nocturnal habitues had slunk away, and the day's trade had not yet begun. Higgins, drawn and haggard beneath his drunken flush, was babbling incessantly; Locke, as usual, sat facing the entrance, his eyes watchful, his countenance alert. In spite of the fact that he had constantly plied his companion with liquor in the hope of stilling his tongue, Higgins seemed incapable of silence, and kept break

g for the hundredth time. "Got two faults, tha'

tho

es

leaning forward, said: "You

t ev

ke to play a

ied it an' always get the wors' of it. Yes, sir, he

hy don't you

air of bleared, unfocusab

somebody ma

ed youth lau

good

ean

ney. 'S old man

dogs." Higgins nodded heavily in agreement. "Why don't you sen

follow, and Locke repeated his words, con

ldn't work.

to if he

's old man puts up reg'lar? Fine man,

can work it. I've go

e boat sails at ten. Let

a'

of him. We'll go through his clothes and when he land

did not see. "He don'

ued; "he's got a

be at sea by the time he woke up; he couldn't get back; he'd have to work; don't you see? He'd be

tion finally dawned upon Higgins's m

chord." He bore down with his huge hands upon the yellow keyboard, bringing forth a met

nage him," Locke went on. "And here'

d you g

ss and better, and he'll fit my desc

you g

nd. I may jump over to

rn' funny idea, if y

for the singer; then, when the bartender had deserted the piano

ggins, Anthony was occupied, and Ringold still slumbered; hence no one observed the tr

utes after Kirk Anthony had taken the drink handed him he declared himself sleepy,

ken companion. "I've got a taxi waiti

he details of which were almost entirely missing. He remembered that dawn had broken when he came out of the saloon, but beyond that he could not go with any degree of certainty. There was a hazy memory of an interminable ride in a closed vehicl

as big Marty Ringold had done earlier in the day, and begin to pack his belongings. Partly out of deference to the frantic appeals of his widowed mother, partly owing to the telephoned advice of Mr. Michael Padden, of Sixth Avenue, who said the inj