diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 3475-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 116019 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 3475-h/3475-h.htm | 5924 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 3475.txt | 6500 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 3475.zip | bin | 0 -> 110609 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/effnc10.zip | bin | 0 -> 109578 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/effnc10h.zip | bin | 0 -> 114039 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/effnc10l.zip | bin | 0 -> 103501 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/effnc10p.zip | bin | 0 -> 151141 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/effnc11.zip | bin | 0 -> 109509 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/effnc11h.zip | bin | 0 -> 114790 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/effnc11l.zip | bin | 0 -> 103761 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/effnc11p.zip | bin | 0 -> 151395 bytes |
15 files changed, 12440 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/3475-h.zip b/3475-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..61b7dae --- /dev/null +++ b/3475-h.zip diff --git a/3475-h/3475-h.htm b/3475-h/3475-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d8f7f16 --- /dev/null +++ b/3475-h/3475-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5924 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta name="generator" content= +"HTML Tidy for Mac OS X (vers 1st December 2004), see www.w3.org" /> +<meta http-equiv="content-type" content= +"text/html; charset=us-ascii" /> +<title>The Efficiency Expert, by Edgar Rice Burroughs.</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + body {font-family:Georgia,serif;margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%;} + p {text-align: justify;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center;} + pre {font-family:Courier,monospaced;font-size: 0.8em;} + hr {width: 50%;} + hr.full {width: 100%;} + hr.short {width:25%;} + h3 {padding-top:1.5em;} + + + ol {list-style-type:upper-roman;margin-left:10%;font-variant:small-caps;} + .returnTOC {text-align:right;font-size:.7em;} + .cen {text-align:center;} + .rgt {text-align:right;} + a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Efficiency Expert, by Edgar Rice Burroughs + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + + +Title: The Efficiency Expert + +Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs + +Posting Date: May 6, 2012 [EBook #3475] +Release Date: October, 2002 [Etext #3475] +[The actual date this file first posted = 10/30/01] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EFFICIENCY EXPERT *** + + + + +Produced by Fred M. Adams (fsadams@magma.cs) + + + + + +</pre> + +<hr class="full" /> +<h1>THE EFFICIENCY EXPERT</h1> +<h4>by</h4> +<h2>Edgar Rice Burroughs</h2> +<hr /> +<h2><a id="Contents" name="Contents"></a>Contents</h2> +<ol> +<li><a href="#Ch_I">JIMMY TORRANCE, JR.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_II">JIMMY WILL ACCEPT A POSITION.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_III">THE LIZARD.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_IV">JIMMY HUNTS A JOB.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_V">JIMMY LANDS ONE.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_VI">HAROLD PLAYS THE RAVEN.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_VII">JOBLESS AGAIN.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_VIII">BREAD FROM THE WATERS.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_IX">HAROLD SITS IN A GAME.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_X">AT FEINHEIMER'S.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XI">CHRISTMAS EVE.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XII">UP OR DOWN?</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XIII">HARRIET PHILOSOPHIZES.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XIV">IN AGAIN--OUT AGAIN.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XV">LITTLE EVA.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XVI">JIMMY THROWS A BLUFF.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XVII">JIMMY ON THE JOB.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XVIII">THE EFFICIENCY EXPERT.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XIX">PLOTTING.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XX">AN INVITATION TO DINE.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XXI">JIMMY TELLS THE TRUTH.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XXII">A LETTER FROM MURRAY.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XXIII">LAID UP.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XXIV">IN THE TOILS.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XXV">CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XXVI">"THE ONLY FRIENDS HE HAS."</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XXVII">THE TRIAL.</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_XXVIII">THE VERDICT.</a></li> +</ol> +<hr /> +<h3><a id="Ch_I" name="Ch_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h3> +<h2>JIMMY TORRANCE, JR.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The gymnasium was packed as Jimmy Torrance stepped into the ring +for the final event of the evening that was to decide the boxing +championship of the university. Drawing to a close were the nearly +four years of his college career—profitable years, Jimmy +considered them, and certainly successful up to this point. In the +beginning of his senior year he had captained the varsity eleven, +and in the coming spring he would again sally forth upon the +diamond as the star initial sacker of collegedom.</p> +<p>His football triumphs were in the past, his continued baseball +successes a foregone conclusion—if he won to-night his cup of +happiness, and an unassailably dominant position among his fellows, +would be assured, leaving nothing more, in so far as Jimmy +reasoned, to be desired from four years attendance at one of +America’s oldest and most famous universities.</p> +<p>The youth who would dispute the right to championship honors +with Jimmy was a dark horse to the extent that he was a freshman, +and, therefore, practically unknown. He had worked hard, however, +and given a good account of himself in his preparations for the +battle, and there were rumors, as there always are about every +campus, of marvelous exploits prior to his college days. It was +even darkly hinted that he was a professional pugilist. As a matter +of fact, he was the best exponent of the manly art of self-defense +that Jimmy Torrance had ever faced, and in addition thereto he +outweighed the senior and outreached him.</p> +<p>The boxing contest, as the faculty members of the athletic +committee preferred to call it, was, from the tap of the gong, as +pretty a two-fisted scrap as ever any aggregation of low-browed +fight fans witnessed. The details of this gory contest, while +interesting, have no particular bearing upon the development of +this tale. What interests us is the outcome, which occurred in the +middle of a very bloody fourth round, in which Jimmy Torrance +scored a clean knock-out.</p> +<p>It was a battered but happy Jimmy who sat in his room the +following Monday afternoon, striving to concentrate his mind upon a +college text-book which should, by all the laws of fiction, have +been ‘well thumbed,’ but in reality, possessed +unruffled freshness which belied its real age.</p> +<p>“I wish,” mused Jimmy, “that I could have got +to the bird who invented mathematics before he inflicted all this +unnecessary anguish upon an already unhappy world. In about three +rounds I could have saved thousands from the sorrow which I feel +every time I open this blooming book.”</p> +<p>He was still deeply engrossed in the futile attempt of +accomplishing in an hour that for which the college curriculum set +aside several months when there came sounds of approaching +footsteps rapidly ascending the stairway. His door was +unceremoniously thrown open, and there appeared one of those +strange apparitions which is the envy and despair of the small-town +youth—a naturally good-looking young fellow, the sartorial +arts of whose tailor had elevated his waist-line to his arm-pits, +dragged down his shoulders, and caved in his front until he had the +appearance of being badly dished from chin to knees. His trousers +appeared to have been made for a man with legs six inches longer +than his, while his hat was evidently several sizes too large, +since it would have entirely extinguished his face had it not been +supported by his ears.</p> +<p>“Hello, Kid!” cried Jimmy. “What’s +new?”</p> +<p>“Whiskers wants you,” replied the other. +“Faculty meeting. They just got through with me.”</p> +<p>“Hell!” muttered Jimmy feelingly. “I +don’t know what Whiskers wants with me, but he never wants to +see anybody about anything pleasant.”</p> +<p>“I am here,” agreed the other, “to announce to +the universe that you are right, Jimmy. He didn’t have +anything pleasant to say to me. In fact, he insinuated that dear +old alma mater might be able to wiggle along without me if I +didn’t abjure my criminal life. Made some nasty comparison +between my academic achievements and foxtrotting. I wonder, Jimmy, +how they get that way?”</p> +<p>“That’s why they are profs,” explained Jimmy. +“There are two kinds of people in this world—human +beings and profs. When does he want me?”</p> +<p>“Now.”</p> +<p>Jimmy arose and put on his hat and coat. “Good-by, +Kid,” he said. “Pray for me, and leave me one cigarette +to smoke when I get back,” and, grinning, he left the +room.</p> +<p>James Torrance, Jr., was not greatly abashed as he faced the +dour tribunal of the faculty. The younger members, among whom were +several he knew to be mighty good fellows at heart, sat at the +lower end of the long table, and with owlish gravity attempted to +emulate the appearance and manners of their seniors. At the head of +the table sat Whiskers, as the dignified and venerable president of +the university was popularly named. It was generally believed and +solemnly sworn to throughout the large corps of undergraduates that +within the knowledge of any living man Whiskers had never been +known to smile, and to-day he was running true to form.</p> +<p>“Mr. Torrance,” he said, sighing, “it has been +my painful duty on more than one occasion to call your attention to +the uniformly low average of your academic standing. At the earnest +solicitation of the faculty members of the athletic committee, I +have been influenced, against my better judgment, to temporize with +an utterly insufferable condition.</p> +<p>“You are rapidly approaching the close of your senior +year, and in the light of the records which I have before me I am +constrained to believe that it will be utterly impossible for you +to graduate, unless from now to the end of the semester you devote +yourself exclusively to your academic work. If you cannot assure me +that you will do this, I believe it would be to the best interests +of the university for you to resign now, rather than to fail of +graduation. And in this decision I am fully seconded by the faculty +members of the athletic committee, who realize the harmful effect +upon university athletics in the future were so prominent an +athlete as you to fail at graduation.”</p> +<p>If they had sentenced Jimmy to be shot at sunrise the blow could +scarcely have been more stunning than that which followed the +realization that he was not to be permitted to round out his fourth +successful season at first base. But if Jimmy was momentarily +stunned he gave no outward indication of the fact, and in the brief +interval of silence following the president’s ultimatum his +alert mind functioned with the rapidity which it had often shown +upon the gridiron, the diamond, and the squared circle.</p> +<p>Just for a moment the thought of being deprived of the pleasure +and excitement of the coming baseball season filled his mind to the +exclusion of every other consideration, but presently a less +selfish impulse projected upon the screen of recollection the +figure of the father he idolized. The boy realized the +disappointment that this man would feel should his four years of +college end thus disastrously and without the coveted diploma.</p> +<p>And then it was that he raised his eyes to those of the +president.</p> +<p>“I hope, sir,” he said, “that you will give me +one more chance—that you will let me go on as I have in the +past as far as baseball is concerned, with the understanding that +if at the end of each month between now and commencement I do not +show satisfactory improvement I shall not be permitted to play on +the team. But please don’t make that restriction binding yet. +If I lay off the track work I believe I can make up enough so that +baseball will not interfere with my graduation.”</p> +<p>And so Whiskers, who was much more human than the student body +gave him credit for being, and was, in the bargain, a good judge of +boys, gave Jimmy another chance on his own terms, and the +university’s heavyweight champion returned to his room filled +with determination to make good at the eleventh hour.</p> +<p>Possibly one of the greatest obstacles which lay in +Jimmy’s path toward academic honors was the fact that he +possessed those qualities of character which attracted others to +him, with the result that there was seldom an hour during the day +that he had his room to himself. On his return from the faculty +meeting he found a half-dozen of his classmates there, awaiting his +return.</p> +<p>“Well?” they inquired as he entered.</p> +<p>“It’s worse than that,” said Jimmy, as he +unfolded the harrowing details of what had transpired at his +meeting with the faculty. “And now,” he said, “if +you birds love me, keep out of here from now until commencement. +There isn’t a guy on earth can concentrate on anything with a +roomful of you mental ciphers sitting around and yapping about +girls and other non-essential creations.”</p> +<p>“Non-essential!” gasped one of his visitors, letting +his eyes wander over the walls of Jimmy’s study, whereon were +nailed, pinned or hung countless framed and unframed pictures of +non-essential creations.</p> +<p>“All right, Jimmy,” said another. “We are with +you, horse, foot and artillery. When you want us, give us the +high-sign and we will come. Otherwise we will leave you to your +beloved books. It is too bad, though, as the bar-boy was just +explaining how the great drought might be circumvented by means of +carrots, potato peelings, dish-water, and a raisin.”</p> +<p>“Go on,” said Jimmy; “I am not +interested,” and the boys left him to his +“beloved” books.</p> +<p>Jimmy Torrance worked hard, and by dint of long hours and +hard-working tutors he finished his college course and won his +diploma. Nor did he have to forego the crowning honors of his last +baseball season, although, like Ulysses S. Grant, he would have +graduated at the head of his class had the list been turned upside +down.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_II" name="Ch_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h3> +<h2>JIMMY WILL ACCEPT A POSITION.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Following his graduation he went to New York to visit with one +of his classmates for a short time before returning home. He was a +very self-satisfied Jimmy, nor who can wonder, since almost from +his matriculation there had been constantly dinned into his ears +the plaudits of his fellow students. Jimmy Torrance had been the +one big outstanding feature of each succeeding class from his +freshman to his senior year, and as a junior and senior he had been +the acknowledged leader of the student body and as popular a man as +the university had ever known.</p> +<p>To his fellows, as well as to himself, he had been a great +success—the success of the university—and he and they +saw in the future only continued success in whatever vocation he +decided to honor with his presence. It was in a mental attitude +that had become almost habitual with him, and which was +superinduced by these influences, that Jimmy approached the new +life that was opening before him. For a while he would play, but in +the fall it was his firm intention to settle down to some serious +occupation, and it was in this attitude that he opened a letter +from his father—the first that he had received since his +graduation.</p> +<p>The letter was written on the letterhead of the Beatrice Corn +Mills, Incorporated, Beatrice, Nebraska, and in the upper left-hand +corner, in small type, appeared “James Torrance, Sr., +President and General Manager,” and this is what he read:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>Dear Jim</p> +<p>You have graduated—I didn’t think you +would—with honors in football, baseball, prize-fighting, and +five thousand dollars in debt. How you got your diploma is beyond +me—in my day you would have got the sack. Well, son, I am not +surprised nor disappointed—it is what I expected. I know you +are clean, though, and that some day you will awaken to the sterner +side of life and an appreciation of your responsibilities.</p> +<p>To be an entirely orthodox father I should raise merry hell +about your debts and utter inutility, at the same time +disinheriting you, but instead I am going to urge you to come home +and run in debt here where the cost of living is not so high as in +the East—meanwhile praying that your awakening may come while +I am on earth to rejoice.</p> +<p class="rgt">Your affectionate<br /> +FATHER,</p> +<p>Am enclosing check to cover your debts and present needs.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>For a long time the boy sat looking at the letter before him. He +reread it once, twice, three times, and with each reading the film +of unconscious egotism that had blinded him to his own shortcomings +gradually became less opaque, until finally he saw himself as his +father must see him. He had come to college for the purpose of +fitting himself to succeed in some particular way in the stern +battle of life which must follow his graduation; for, though his +father had ample means to support him in indolence, Jimmy had never +even momentarily considered such an eventuality.</p> +<p>In weighing his assets now he discovered that he had probably as +excellent a conception of gridiron strategy and tactics as any man +in America; that as a boxer he occupied a position in the forefront +of amateur ranks; and he was quite positive that out-side of the +major leagues there was not a better first baseman.</p> +<p>But in the last few minutes there had dawned upon him the +realization that none of these accomplishments was greatly in +demand in the business world. Jimmy spent a very blue and unhappy +hour, and then slowly his natural optimism reasserted itself, and +with it came the realization of his youth and strength and inherent +ability, which, without egotism, he might claim.</p> +<p>“And then, too,” he mused, “I have my diploma. +I am a college graduate, and that must mean something. If dad had +only reproached me or threatened some condign punishment I +don’t believe I should feel half as badly as I do. But every +line of that letter breathes disappointment in me; and yet, God +bless him, he tells me to come home and spend his money there. Not +on your life! If he won’t disinherit me, I am going to +disinherit myself. I am going to make him proud of me. He’s +the best dad a fellow ever had, and I am going to show him that I +appreciate him.”</p> +<p>And so he sat down and wrote his father this reply:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>DEAR DAD:</p> +<p>I have your letter and check. You may not believe it, but the +former is worth more to me than the latter. Not, however, that I +spurn the check, which it was just like you to send without a lot +of grumbling and reproaches, even if I do deserve them.</p> +<p>Your letter shows me what a rotten mess I have made of myself. +I’m not going to hand you a lot of mush, dad, but I want to +try to do something that will give you reason to at least have +hopes of rejoicing before I come home again. If I fail I’ll +come home anyway, and then neither one of us will have any doubt +but what you will have to support me for the rest of my life. +However, I don’t intend to fail, and one of these days I will +bob up all serene as president of a bank or a glue factory. In the +mean time I’ll keep you posted as to my whereabouts, but +don’t send me another cent until I ask for it; and when I do +you will know that I have failed.</p> +<p>Tell mother that I will write her in a day or two, probably from +Chicago, as I have always had an idea that that was one burg where +I could make good.</p> +<p>With lots of love to you all,</p> +<p class="rgt">Your affectionate<br /> +SON.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>It was a hot July day that James Torrance, Jr., alighted from +the Twentieth Century Limited at the La Salle Street Station, and, +entering a cab, directed that he be driven to a small hotel; +“for,” he soliloquized, “I might as well start +economizing at once, as it might be several days before I land a +job such as I want,” in voicing which sentiments he spoke +with the tongues of the prophets.</p> +<p>Jimmy had many friends in Chicago with whom, upon the occasion +of numerous previous visits to the Western metropolis, he had spent +many hilarious and expensive hours, but now he had come upon the +serious business of life, and there moved within him a strong +determination to win financial success without recourse to the +influence of rich and powerful acquaintances.</p> +<p>Since the first crushing blow that his father’s letter had +dealt his egotism, Jimmy’s self-esteem had been gradually +returning, though along new and more practical lines. His +self-assurance was formed in a similar mold to those of all his +other salient characteristics, and these conformed to his physical +proportions, for physically, mentally and morally Jimmy Torrance +was big; not that he was noticeably taller than other men or his +features more than ordinarily attractive, but there was something +so well balanced and harmonious in all the proportions of his frame +and features as to almost invariably compel a second glance from +even a casual observer, especially if the casual observer happened +to be in the nonessential creation class.</p> +<p>And so Jimmy, having had plenty of opportunity to commune with +himself during the journey from New York, was confident that there +were many opportunities awaiting him in Chicago. He remembered +distinctly of having read somewhere that the growing need of big +business concerns was competent executive material—that there +were fewer big men than there were big jobs—and that if such +was the case all that remained to be done was to connect himself +with the particular big job that suited him.</p> +<p>In the lobby of the hotel he bought several of the daily papers, +and after reaching his room he started perusing the “Help +Wanted” columns. Immediately he was impressed and elated by +the discovery that there were plenty of jobs, and that a +satisfactory percentage of them appeared to be big jobs. There were +so many, however, that appealed to him as excellent possibilities +that he saw it would be impossible to apply for each and every one; +and then it occurred to him that he might occupy a more strategic +position in the negotiations preceding his acceptance of a position +if his future employer came to him first, rather than should he be +the one to apply for the position.</p> +<p>And so he decided the wisest plan would be to insert an ad in +the “Situations Wanted” column, and then from the +replies select those which most appealed to him; in other words, he +would choose from the cream of those who desired the services of +such a man as himself rather than risk the chance of obtaining a +less profitable position through undue haste in seizing upon the +first opening advertised.</p> +<p>Having reached this decision, and following his habitual custom, +he permitted no grass to grow beneath his feet. Writing out an ad, +he reviewed it carefully, compared it with others that he saw upon +the printed page, made a few changes, rewrote it, and then +descended to the lobby, where he called a cab and was driven to the +office of one of the area’s metropolitan morning +newspapers.</p> +<p>Jimmy felt very important as he passed through the massive +doorway into the great general offices of the newspaper. Of course, +he didn’t exactly expect that he would be ushered into the +presence of the president or business manager, or that even the +advertising manager would necessarily have to pass upon his copy, +but there was within him a certain sensation that at that instant +something was transpiring that in later years would be a matter of +great moment, and he was really very sorry for the publishers of +the newspaper that they did not know who it was who was inserting +an ad in their Situations Wanted column.</p> +<p>He could not help but watch the face of the young man who +received his ad and counted the words, as he was sure that the +clerk’s facial expression would betray his excitement. It was +a great moment for Jimmy Torrance. He realized that it was probably +the greatest moment of his life—that here Jimmy Torrance +ceased to be, and James Torrance, Jr., Esq., began his career. But +though he carefully watched the face of the clerk, he was finally +forced to admit that the young man possessed wonderful control over +his facial expression.</p> +<p>“That bird has a regular poker-face,” mused Jimmy; +“never batted an eye,” and paying for his ad he +pocketed the change and walked out.</p> +<p>“Let’s see,” he figured; “it will be in +tomorrow morning’s edition. The tired business man will read +it either at breakfast or after he reaches his office. I understand +that there are three million people here in Chicago. Out of that +three million it is safe to assume that one million will read my +advertisement, and of that one-million there must be at least one +thousand who have responsible positions which are, at present, +inadequately filled.</p> +<p>“Of course, the truth of the matter is that there are +probably tens of thousands of such positions, but to be +conservative I will assume that there are only one thousand, and +reducing it still further to almost an absurdity, I will figure +that only ten per cent of those reply to my advertisement. In other +words, at the lowest possible estimate I should have one hundred +replies on the first day. I knew it was foolish to run it for three +days, but the fellow insisted that that was the proper way to do, +as I got a lower rate.</p> +<p>“By taking it for three days, however, it doesn’t +seem right to make so many busy men waste their time answering the +ad when I shall doubtless find a satisfactory position the first +day.”</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_III" name="Ch_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h3> +<h2>THE LIZARD.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>That night Jimmy attended a show, and treated himself to a +lonely dinner afterward. He should have liked very much to have +looked up some of his friends. A telephone call would have brought +invitations to dinner and a pleasant evening with convivial +companions, but he had mapped his course and he was determined to +stick to it to the end.</p> +<p>“There will be plenty of time,” he thought, +“for amusement after I have gotten a good grasp of my new +duties.” Jimmy elected to walk from the theater to his hotel, +and as he was turning the corner from Randolph into La Salle a +young man jostled him. An instant later the stranger was upon his +knees, his wrist doubled suddenly backward and very close to the +breaking-point.</p> +<p>“Wot t’ hell yuh doin’?” he +screamed.</p> +<p>“Pardon me,” replied Jimmy: “you got your hand +in the wrong pocket. I suppose you meant to put it in your own, but +you didn’t.”</p> +<p>“Aw, g’wan; lemme go,” pleaded the stranger. +“I didn’t get nuthin’— you ain’t got +the goods on me.”</p> +<p>Now, such a tableau as Jimmy and his new acquaintance formed +cannot be staged at the corner of Randolph and La Salle beneath an +arc light, even at midnight, without attracting attention. And so +it was that before Jimmy realized it a dozen curious pedestrians +were approaching them from different directions, and a burly +blue-coated figure was shouldering his way forward.</p> +<p>Jimmy had permitted his captive to rise, but he still held +tightly to his wrist as the officer confronted them. He took one +look at Jimmy’s companion, and then grabbed him roughly by +the arm. “So, it’s you again, is it?” he +growled.</p> +<p>“I ain’t done nuthin’,” muttered the +man.</p> +<p>The officer looked inquiringly at Jimmy.</p> +<p>“What’s all the excitement about?” asked the +latter. “My friend and I have done nothing.”</p> +<p>“Your fri’nd and you?” replied the policeman. +“He ain’t no fri’nd o’ yours, or yez +wouldn’t be sayin’ so.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’ll admit,” replied Jimmy, “that +possibly I haven’t known him long enough to presume to claim +any close friendship, but there’s no telling what time may +develop.”</p> +<p>“You don’t want him pinched?” asked the +policeman.</p> +<p>“Of course not,” replied Jimmy. “Why should he +be pinched?”</p> +<p>The officer turned roughly upon the stranger, shook him +viciously a few times, and then gave him a mighty shove which all +but sent him sprawling into the gutter.</p> +<p>“G’wan wid yez,” he yelled after him, +“and if I see ye on this beat again I’ll run yez in. +An’ you”—he turned upon +Jimmy—“ye’d betther be on your way—and not +be afther makin’ up with ivery dip ye meet.”</p> +<p>“Thanks,” said Jimmy. “Have a +cigar.”</p> +<p>After the officer had helped himself and condescended to relax +his stern features into the semblance of a smile the young man bid +him good night and resumed his way toward the hotel.</p> +<p>“Pretty early to go to bed,” he thought as he +reached for his watch to note the time, running his fingers into an +empty pocket. Gingerly he felt in another pocket, where he knew his +watch couldn’t possibly be, nor was. Carefully Jimmy examined +each pocket of his coat and trousers, a slow and broad grin +illumining his face.</p> +<p>“What do you know about that?” he mused. “And +I thought I was a wise guy.”</p> +<p>A few minutes after Jimmy reached his room the office called him +on the telephone to tell him that a man had called to see him.</p> +<p>“Send him up,” said Jimmy, wondering who it might +be, since he was sure that no one knew of his presence in the city. +He tried to connect the call in some way with his advertisement, +but inasmuch as that had been inserted blind he felt that there +could be no possible connection between that and his caller.</p> +<p>A few minutes later there was a knock on his door, and in +response to his summons to enter the door opened, and there stood +before him the young man of his recent encounter upon the street. +The latter entered softly, closing the door behind him. His feet +made no sound upon the carpet, and no sound came from the door as +he closed it, nor any slightest click from the latch. His utter +silence and the stealth of his movements were so pronounced as to +attract immediate attention. He did not speak until he had reached +the center of the room and halted on the opposite side of the table +at which Jimmy was standing; and then a very slow smile moved his +lips, though the expression of his eyes remained unchanged.</p> +<p>“Miss anything?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Here it is,” said the visitor, laying the +other’s watch upon the table.</p> +<p>“Why this spasm of virtue?” asked Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t know,” replied the other. +“I guess it’s because you’re a white guy. +O’Donnell has been trying to get something on me for the last +year. He’s got it in for me—I wouldn’t cough +every time the big stiff seen me.”</p> +<p>“Sit down,” said Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Naw,” said the other; “I gotta be +goin’.”</p> +<p>“Come,” insisted the host; “sit down for a few +minutes at least. I was just wishing that I had someone to talk +to.”</p> +<p>The other sank noiselessly into a chair. “All right, +bo,” he said.</p> +<p>Jimmy proffered him his cigar-case.</p> +<p>“No, thanks,” declined the visitor. “I’d +rather have a coffin-nail,” which Jimmy forthwith +furnished.</p> +<p>“I should think,” said Jimmy, “that your +particular line of endeavor would prove rather hazardous in a place +where you are known by the police.”</p> +<p>The other smiled and, as before, with his lips alone.</p> +<p>“Naw,” he said; “this is the safest place to +work. If ten per cent of the bulls know me I got that much on them, +and then some, because any boob can spot any one o’ de +harness bunch, and I know nearly every fly on the department. +They’re the guys yuh gotta know, and usually I know something +besides their names, too,” and again his lips smiled.</p> +<p>“How much of your time do you have to put in at your +occupation to make a living?” asked Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Sometimes I put in six or eight hours a day,” +replied the visitor. “De rush hours on de surface line are +usually good for two or t’ree hours a day, but I been +layin’ off dat stuff lately and goin’ in fer de +t’ater crowd. Dere’s more money and shorter +hours.”</p> +<p>“You confine yourself,” asked Jimmy, +“to—er—ah—pocket-picking solely?”</p> +<p>Again the lip smile. “I’ll tell youse sumpin’, +bo, dat dey don’t none o’ dem big stiffs on de +department know. De dip game is a stall. I learned it when I was a +kid, an’ dese yaps t’ink dat’s all I know, and I +keep dem t’inkin’ it by pullin’ stuff under der +noses often enough to give ‘em de hunch dat I’m still +at de same ol’ business.” He leaned confidentially +across the table. “If you ever want a box cracked, look up +the Lizard.”</p> +<p>“Meaning?” asked Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Me, bo, I’m the Lizard.”</p> +<p>“Box cracked?” repeated Jimmy. “An ice-box or +a hot box?”</p> +<p>His visitor grinned. “Safe,” he explained.</p> +<p>“Oh,” said Jimmy, “if I ever want any one to +break into a safe, come to you, huh?”</p> +<p>“You get me,” replied the other.</p> +<p>“All right,” said Jimmy, laughing, “I’ll +call on you. That the only name you got, Mr. Lizard?”</p> +<p>“That’s all—just the Lizard. Now I gotta be +beatin’ it.”</p> +<p>“Goin’ to crack a box?” asked Jimmy.</p> +<p>The other smiled his lip smile and turned toward the door.</p> +<p>“Wait a second,” said Jimmy. “What would you +have gotten on this watch of mine?”</p> +<p>“It would have stood me about twenty bucks.”</p> +<p>Jimmy reached into his pocket and drew forth a roll of bills. +“Here,” he said, handing the other two tens.</p> +<p>“Naw,” said the Lizard, shoving the proffered money +away. “I’m no cheap skate.”</p> +<p>“Come on—take it,” said Jimmy. “I may +want a box cracked some day.”</p> +<p>“All right,” said the Lizard, “if you put it +that way, bo.”</p> +<p>“I should think,” said Jimmy, “that a man of +your ability could earn a living by less precarious methods.”</p> +<p>“You would think so,” replied the Lizard. +“I’ve tried two or three times to go straight. Wore out +my shoes looking for a job. Never landed anything that paid me more +than ten bucks per, and worked nine or ten hours a day, and half +the time I couldn’t get that.”</p> +<p>“I suppose the police hounded you all the time, +too,” suggested Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Naw,” said the Lizard; “dat’s all bunk. +De fellows that couldn’t even float down a sewer straight +pull dat. Once in a while dey get it in for some guy, but +dey’re glad enough to leave us alone if we leave dem alone. I +worked four hours to-day, maybe six before I get through, and +I’ll stand a chance of makin’ all the way from fifty +dollars to five thousand. Suppose I was drivin’ a milk-wagon, +gettin’ up at t’ree o’clock in the mornin’ +and workin’ like hell—how much would I get out of dat? +Expectin’ every minute some one was goin’ tuh fire me. +Nuthin’ doin’—dey can’t nobody fire me now. +I’m my own boss.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said Jimmy, “your logic sounds all +right, but it all depends upon the viewpoint. But I’ll tell +you: you’ve offered me your services; I’ll offer you +mine. Whenever you want a job, look me up. I’m going to be +general manager of a big concern here, and you’ll find me in +the next issue of the telephone directory.” He handed the +Lizard his card.</p> +<p>“Tanks,” said the latter. “If you don’t +want a box cracked any sooner than I want a job, the chances are we +will never meet again. So-long,” and he was gone as +noiselessly as he had come.</p> +<p>Jimmy breakfasted at nine the next morning, and as he waited for +his bacon and eggs he searched the Situations Wanted columns of the +morning paper until his eye finally alighted upon that for which he +sought—the ad that was to infuse into the business life of +the great city a new and potent force. Before his breakfast was +served Jimmy had read the few lines over a dozen times, and with +each succeeding reading he was more and more pleased with the +result of his advertising ability as it appeared in print.</p> +<blockquote> +<p>WANTED—By College Graduate—Position as General +Manager of Large Business where ability, energy and experience will +be appreciated. Address 263-S, Tribune Office.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>He had decided to wait until after lunch before calling at the +newspaper office for replies to his advertisement, but during +breakfast it occurred to him there probably would be several alert +prospective employers who would despatch their replies by special +messengers, and realizing that promptness was one of the cardinal +virtues in the business world, Jimmy reasoned that it would make a +favorable impression were he to present himself as soon as possible +after the receipt of replies.</p> +<p>By a simple system of reasoning he deduced that ten +o’clock would be none too early to expect some returns from +his ad, and therefore at ten promptly he presented himself at the +Want Ad Department in the Tribune office.</p> +<p>Comparing the number of the receipt which Jimmy handed him with +the numbers upon a file of little pigeonholes, the clerk presently +turned back toward the counter with a handful of letters.</p> +<p>“Whew!” thought Jimmy. “I never would have +guessed that I would receive a bunch like that so early in the +morning.” But then, as he saw the clerk running through them +one by one, he realized that they were not all for him, and as the +young man ran through them Jimmy’s spirits dropped a notch +with each letter that was passed over without being thrown out to +him, until, when the last letter had passed beneath the scrutiny of +the clerk, and the advertiser realized that he had received no +replies, he was quite sure that there was some error.</p> +<p>“Nothing,” said the clerk, shaking his head +negatively.</p> +<p>“Are you sure you looked in the right compartment?” +asked Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Sure,” replied the clerk. “There is nothing +for you.”</p> +<p>Jimmy pocketed his slip and walked from the office. “This +town is slower than I thought it was,” he mused. +“‘I guess they do need some live wires here to manage +their business.”</p> +<p>At noon he returned, only to be again disappointed, and then at +two o’clock, and when he came in at four the same clerk +looked up wearily and shook his head.</p> +<p>“Nothing for you,” he said. “I distributed all +the stuff myself since you were in last.”</p> +<p>As Jimmy stood there almost dazed by surprise that during an +entire day his ad had appeared in Chicago’s largest +newspaper, and he had not received one reply, a man approached the +counter, passed a slip similar to Jimmy’s to the clerk, and +received fully a hundred letters in return. Jimmy was positive now +that something was wrong.</p> +<p>“Are you sure,” he asked the clerk, “that my +replies haven’t been sidetracked somewhere? I have seen +people taking letters away from here all day, and that bird there +just walked off with a fistful.”</p> +<p>The clerk grinned. “What you advertising for?” he +asked.</p> +<p>“A position,” replied Jimmy.</p> +<p>“That’s the answer,” explained the clerk. +“That fellow there was advertising for help.”</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_IV" name="Ch_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h3> +<h2>JIMMY HUNTS A JOB.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Once again Jimmy walked out onto Madison Street, and, turning to +his right, dropped into a continuous vaudeville show in an attempt +to coax his spirits back to somewhere near their normal high-water +mark. Upon the next day he again haunted the newspaper office +without reward, and again upon the third day with similar results. +To say that Jimmy was dumfounded would be but a futile description +of his mental state. It was simply beyond him to conceive that in +one of the largest cities in the world, the center of a thriving +district of fifty million souls, there was no business man with +sufficient acumen to realize how badly he needed James Torrance, +Jr., to conduct his business for him successfully.</p> +<p>With the close of the fourth day, and no reply, Jimmy was +thoroughly exasperated. The kindly clerk, who by this time had +taken a personal interest in this steadiest of customers, suggested +that Jimmy try applying for positions advertised in the Help Wanted +column, and this he decided to do.</p> +<p>There were only two concerns advertising for general managers in +the issue which Jimmy scanned; one ad called for an experienced +executive to assume the general management of an old established +sash, door and blind factory; the other insisted upon a man with +mail-order experience to take charge of the mail-order department +of a large department store.</p> +<p>Neither of these were precisely what Jimmy had hoped for, his +preference really being for the general management of an automobile +manufactory or possibly something in the airplane line. Sash, door +and blind sounded extremely prosaic and uninteresting to Mr. +Torrance. The mail-order proposition, while possibly more +interesting, struck him as being too trifling and unimportant.</p> +<p>“However,” he thought, “it will do no harm to +have a talk with these people, and possibly I might even consider +giving one of them a trial.”</p> +<p>And so, calling a taxi, he drove out onto the west side where, +in a dingy and squalid neighborhood, the taxi stopped in front of a +grimy unpainted three-story brick building, from which a great deal +of noise and dust were issuing. Jimmy found the office on the +second floor, after ascending a narrow, dark, and dirty stairway. +Jimmy’s experience of manufacturing plants was extremely +limited, but he needed no experience as he entered the room to see +that he was in a busy office of a busy plant. Everything about the +office was plain and rather dingy, but there were a great many file +clerks and typists and considerable bustling about.</p> +<p>After stating his business to a young lady who sat behind a +switchboard, upon the front of which was the word +“Information,” and waiting while she communicated with +an inner office over the telephone, he was directed in the +direction of a glass partition at the opposite end of the +room—a partition in which there were doors at intervals, and +upon each door a name.</p> +<p>He had been told that Mr. Brown would see him, and rapping upon +the door bearing that name he was bid to enter, and a moment later +found himself in the presence of a middle-aged man whose every +gesture and movement was charged with suppressed nerve energy.</p> +<p>As Jimmy entered the man was reading a letter. He finished it +quickly, slapped it into a tray, and wheeled in his chair toward +his caller.</p> +<p>“Well?” he snapped, as Jimmy approached him.</p> +<p>“I came in reply to your advertisement for a general +manager,” announced Jimmy confidently.</p> +<p>The man sized him up quickly from head to foot. His eyes +narrowed and his brows contracted.</p> +<p>“What experience you had? Who you been with, and how many +years?” He snapped the questions at Jimmy with the rapidity +of machine-gun fire.</p> +<p>“I have the necessary ability,” replied Jimmy, +“to manage your business.”</p> +<p>“How many years have you had in the sash, door and blind +business?” snapped Mr. Brown.</p> +<p>“I have never had any experience in the sash, door and +blind business,” replied Jimmy. “I didn’t come +here to make sash, doors and blinds. I came here to manage your +business.”</p> +<p>Mr. Brown half rose from his chair. His eyes opened a little +wider than normal. “What the—” he started; and +then, “Well, of all the—” Once again he found it +impossible to go on. “You came here to manage a sash, door +and blind factory, and don’t know anything about the +business! Well, of all—”</p> +<p>“I assumed,” said Jimmy, “that what you wanted +in a general manager was executive ability, and that’s what I +have.”</p> +<p>“What you have,” replied Mr. Brown, “is a hell +of a crust. Now, run along, young fellow. I am a very busy +man—and don’t forget to close the door after you as you +go out.”</p> +<p>Jimmy did not forget to close the door. As he walked the length +of the interminable room between rows of desks, before which were +seated young men and young women, all of whom Jimmy thought were +staring at him, he could feel the deep crimson burning upward from +his collar to the roots of his hair.</p> +<p>Never before in his life had Jimmy’s self-esteem received +such a tremendous jolt. He was still blushing when he reached his +cab, and as he drove back toward the Loop he could feel successive +hot waves suffuse his countenance at each recollection of the +humiliating scene through which he had just passed.</p> +<p>It was not until the next day that Jimmy had sufficiently +reestablished his self-confidence to permit him to seek out the +party who wished a mail-order manager, and while in this instance +he met with very pleasant and gentlemanly treatment, his +application was no less definitely turned down.</p> +<p>For a month Jimmy trailed one job after another. At the end of +the first week he decided that the street-cars and sole leather +were less expensive than taxicabs, as his funds were running +perilously low; and he also lowered his aspirations successively +from general managerships through departmental heads, assistants +thereto, office managers, assistant office managers, and various +other vocations, all with the same result; discovering meanwhile +that experience, while possibly not essential as some of the ads +stated, was usually the rock upon which his hopes were dashed.</p> +<p>He also learned something else which surprised him greatly: that +rather than being an aid to his securing employment, his college +education was a drawback, several men telling him bluntly that they +had no vacancies for rah-rah boys.</p> +<p>At the end of the second week Jimmy had moved from his hotel to +a still less expensive one, and a week later to a cheap +boarding-house on the north side. At first he had written his +father and his mother regularly, but now he found it difficult to +write them at all. Toward the middle of the fourth week Jimmy had +reached a point where he applied for a position as office-boy.</p> +<p>“I’ll be damned if I’m going to quit,” +he said to himself, “if I have to turn street-sweeper. There +must be some job here in the city that I am capable of filling, and +I’m pretty sure that I can at least get a job as +office-boy.”</p> +<p>And so he presented himself to the office manager of a +life-insurance company that had advertised such a vacancy. A very +kindly gentleman interviewed him.</p> +<p>“What experience have you had?” he asked.</p> +<p>Jimmy looked at him aghast.</p> +<p>“Do I have to have experience to be an office-boy?” +he asked.</p> +<p>“Well, of course,” replied the gentleman, “it +is not essential, but it is preferable. I already have applications +from a dozen or more fellows, half of whom have had experience, and +one in particular, whom I have about decided to employ, held a +similar position with another life-insurance company.”</p> +<p>Jimmy rose. “Good day,” he said, and walked out.</p> +<p>That day he ate no lunch, but he had discovered a place where an +abundance might be had for twenty-five cents if one knew how to +order and ordered judiciously. And so to this place he repaired for +his dinner. Perched upon a high stool, he filled at least a corner +of the aching void within.</p> +<p>Sitting in his room that night he took account of his assets and +his liabilities. His room rent was paid until Saturday and this was +Thursday, and in his pocket were one dollar and sixty cents. +Opening his trunk, he drew forth a sheet of paper and an envelope, +and, clearing the top of the rickety little table which stood at +the head of his bed, he sat down on the soiled counterpane and +wrote a letter.</p> +<blockquote> +<p>DEAR DAD:</p> +<p>I guess I’m through, I have tried and failed. It is hard +to admit it, but I guess I’ll have to. If you will send me +the price I’ll come home.</p> +<p class="rgt">With love,<br /> +Jim</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Slowly he folded the letter and inserted it in the envelope, his +face mirroring an utter dejection such as Jimmy Torrance had never +before experienced in his life.</p> +<p>“Failure,” he muttered, “unutterable +failure.”</p> +<p>Taking his hat, he walked down the creaking stairway, with its +threadbare carpet, and out onto the street to post his letter.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_V" name="Ch_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h3> +<h2>JIMMY LANDS ONE.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Miss Elizabeth Compton sat in the dimly lighted library upon a +deep-cushioned, tapestried sofa. She was not alone, yet although +there were many comfortable chairs in the large room, and the sofa +was an exceptionally long one, she and her companion occupied but +little more space than would have comfortably accommodated a single +individual.</p> +<p>“Stop it, Harold,” she admonished. “I utterly +loathe being mauled.”</p> +<p>“But I can’t help it, dear. It seems so absolutely +wonderful! I can’t believe it—that you are really +mine.”</p> +<p>“But I’m not—yet!” exclaimed the +girl.</p> +<p>“There are a lot of formalities and bridesmaids and +ministers and things that have got to be taken into consideration +before I am yours. And anyway there is no necessity for mussing me +up so. You might as well know now as later that I utterly loathe +this cave-man stuff. And really, Harold, there is nothing about +your appearance that suggests a cave-man, which is probably one +reason that I like you.”</p> +<p>“Like me?” exclaimed the young man. “I thought +you loved me.”</p> +<p>“I have to like you in order to love you, don’t +I?” she parried. “And one certainly has to like the man +she is going to marry.”</p> +<p>“Well,” grumbled Mr. Bince, “you might be more +enthusiastic about it.”</p> +<p>“I prefer,” explained the girl, “to be loved +decorously. I do not care to be pawed or clawed or crumpled. After +we have been married for fifteen or twenty years and are really +well acquainted—”</p> +<p>“Possibly you will permit me to kiss you,” Bince +finished for her.</p> +<p>“Don’t be silly, Harold,” she retorted. +“You have kissed me so much now that my hair is all down, and +my face must be a sight. Lips are what you are supposed to kiss +with—you don’t have to kiss with your hands.”</p> +<p>“Possibly I was a little bit rough. I am sorry,” +apologized the young man. “But when a fellow has just been +told by the sweetest girl in the world that she will marry him, +it’s enough to make him a little bit crazy.”</p> +<p>“Not at all,” rejoined Miss Compton. “We +should never forget the stratum of society to which we belong, and +what we owe to the maintenance of the position we hold. My father +has always impressed upon me the fact that gentlemen or gentlewomen +are always gentle-folk under any and all circumstances and +conditions. I distinctly recall his remark about one of his +friends, whom he greatly admired, to this effect: that he always +got drunk like a gentleman. Therefore we should do everything as +gentle-folk should do things, and when we make love we should make +love like gentlefolk, and not like hod-carriers or +cavemen.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said the young man; “I’ll try to +remember.”</p> +<p>It was a little after nine o’clock when Harold Bince arose +to leave.</p> +<p>“I’ll drive you home,” volunteered the girl. +“Just wait, and I’ll have Barry bring the roadster +around.”</p> +<p>“I thought we should always do the things that gentle-folk +should do,” said Bince, grinning, after being seated safely +in the car. They had turned out of the driveway into Lincoln +Parkway.</p> +<p>“What do you mean?” asked Elizabeth.</p> +<p>“Is it perfectly proper for young ladies to drive around +the streets of a big city alone after dark?”</p> +<p>“But I’m not alone,” she said.</p> +<p>“You will be after you leave me at home.”</p> +<p>“Oh, well, I’m different.”</p> +<p>“And I’m glad that you are!” exclaimed Bince +fervently. “I wouldn’t love you if you were like the +ordinary run.”</p> +<p>Bince lived at one of the down-town clubs, and after depositing +him there and parting with a decorous handclasp the girl turned her +machine and headed north for home. At Erie Street came a sudden +loud hissing of escaping air.</p> +<p>“Darn!” exclaimed Miss Elizabeth Compton as she drew +in beside the curb and stopped. Although she knew perfectly well +that one of the tires was punctured, she got out and walked around +in front as though in search of the cause of the disturbance, and +sure enough, there it was, flat as a pancake, the left front +tire.</p> +<p>There was an extra wheel on the rear of the roadster, but it was +heavy and cumbersome, and the girl knew from experience what a +dirty job changing a wheel is. She had just about decided to drive +home on the rim, when a young man crossed the walk from Erie Street +and joined her in her doleful appraisement of the punctured +casing.</p> +<p>“Can I help you any?” he asked.</p> +<p>She looked up at him. “Thank you,” she replied, +“but I think I’ll drive home on it as it is. They can +change it there.”</p> +<p>“It looks like a new casing,” he said. “It +would be too bad to ruin it. If you have a spare I will be very +glad to change it for you,” and without waiting for her +acquiescence he stripped off his coat, rolled up his shirt-sleeves, +and dove under the seat for the jack.</p> +<p>Elizabeth Compton was about to protest, but there was something +about the way in which the stranger went at the job that indicated +that he would probably finish it if he wished to, in spite of any +arguments she could advance to the contrary. As he worked she +talked with him, discovering not only that he was a rather nice +person to look at, but that he was equally nice to talk to.</p> +<p>She could not help but notice that his clothes were rather badly +wrinkled and that his shoes were dusty and well worn; for when he +kneeled in the street to operate the jack the sole of one shoe was +revealed beneath the light of an adjacent arc, and she saw that it +was badly worn. Evidently he was a poor young man.</p> +<p>She had observed these things almost unconsciously, and yet they +made their impression upon her, so that when he had finished she +recalled them, and was emboldened thereby to offer him a bill in +payment for his services. He refused, as she had almost expected +him to do, for while his clothes and his shoes suggested that he +might accept a gratuity, his voice and his manner belied them.</p> +<p>During the operation of changing the wheel the young man had a +good opportunity to appraise the face and figure of the girl, both +of which he found entirely to his liking, and when finally she +started off, after thanking him, he stood upon the curb watching +the car until it disappeared from view.</p> +<p>Slowly he drew from his pocket an envelope which had been +addressed and stamped for mailing, and very carefully tore it into +small bits which he dropped into the gutter. He could not have told +had any one asked him what prompted him to the act. A girl had come +into his life for an instant, and had gone out again, doubtless +forever, and yet in that instant Jimmy Torrance had taken a new +grasp upon his self-esteem.</p> +<p>It might have been the girl, and again it might not have been. +He could not tell. Possibly it was the simple little act of +refusing the tip she had proffered him. It might have been any one +of a dozen little different things, or an accumulation of them all, +that had brought back a sudden flood of the old self-confidence and +optimism.</p> +<p>“To-morrow,” said Jimmy as he climbed into his bed, +“I am going to land a job.”</p> +<p>And he did. In the department store to the general managership +of whose mail-order department he had aspired Jimmy secured a +position in the hosiery department at ten dollars a week. The +department buyer who had interviewed him asked him what experience +he had had with ladies’ hosiery.</p> +<p>“About four or five years,” replied Jimmy.</p> +<p>“For whom did you work?”</p> +<p>“I was in business for myself,” replied the +applicant, “both in the West and in the East. I got my first +experience in a small town in Nebraska, but I carried on a larger +business in the East later.”</p> +<p>So they gave Jimmy a trial in a new section of the hosiery +department, wherein he was the only male clerk. The buyer had +discovered that there was a sufficient proportion of male +customers, many of whom displayed evident embarrassment in +purchasing hosiery from young ladies, to warrant putting a man +clerk in one of the sections for this class of trade.</p> +<p>The fact of the matter was, however, that the astute buyer was +never able to determine the wisdom of his plan, since Jimmy’s +entire time was usually occupied in waiting upon impressionable +young ladies. However, inasmuch as it redounded to the profit of +the department, the buyer found no fault.</p> +<p>Possibly if Jimmy had been almost any other type of man from +what he was, his presence would not have been so flamboyantly +noticeable in a hosiery department. His stature, his features, and +his bronzed skin, that had lost nothing of its bronze in his +month’s search for work through the hot summer streets of a +big city, were as utterly out of place as would have been the +salient characteristics of a chorus-girl in a blacksmith-shop.</p> +<p>For the first week Jimmy was frightfully embarrassed, and to his +natural bronze was added an almost continuous flush of +mortification from the moment that he entered the department in the +morning until he left it at night.</p> +<p>“It is a job, however,” he thought, “and ten +dollars is better than nothing. I can hang onto it until something +better turns up.”</p> +<p>With his income now temporarily fixed at the amount of his +wages, he was forced to find a less expensive boarding-place, +although at the time he had rented his room he had been quite +positive that there could not be a cheaper or more undesirable +habitat for man. Transportation and other considerations took him +to a place on Indiana Avenue near Eighteenth Street, from whence he +found he could walk to and from work, thereby saving ten cents a +day. “And believe me,” he cogitated, “I need the +ten.”</p> +<p>Jimmy saw little of his fellow roomers. A strange, drab lot he +thought them from the occasional glimpses he had had in passings +upon the dark stairway and in the gloomy halls. They appeared to be +quiet, inoffensive sort of folk, occupied entirely with their own +affairs. He had made no friends in the place, not even an +acquaintance, nor did he care to. What leisure time he had he +devoted to what he now had come to consider as his life +work—the answering of blind ads in the Help Wanted columns of +one morning and one evening paper—the two mediums which +seemed to carry the bulk of such advertising.</p> +<p>For a while he had sought a better position by applying during +the noon hour to such places as gave an address close enough to the +department store in which he worked to permit him to make the +attempt during the forty-five-minute period he was allowed for his +lunch.</p> +<p>But he soon discovered that nine-tenths of the positions were +filled before he arrived, and that in the few cases where they were +not he not only failed of employment, but was usually so delayed +that he was late in returning to work after noon.</p> +<p>By replying to blind ads evenings he could take his replies to +the two newspaper offices during his lunch hour, thereby losing no +great amount of time. Although he never received a reply, he still +persisted as he found the attempt held something of a fascination +for him, similar probably to that which holds the lottery devotee +or the searcher after buried treasure—there was always the +chance that he would turn up something big.</p> +<p>And so another month dragged by slowly. His work in the +department store disgusted him. It seemed such a silly, futile +occupation for a full-grown man, and he was always fearful that the +sister or sweetheart or mother of some of his Chicago friends would +find him there behind the counter in the hosiery section.</p> +<p>The store was a large one, including many departments, and Jimmy +tried to persuade the hosiery buyer to arrange for his transfer to +another department where his work would be more in keeping with his +sex and appearance.</p> +<p>He rather fancied the automobile accessories line, but the buyer +was perfectly satisfied with Jimmy’s sales record, and would +do nothing to assist in the change. The university heavyweight +champion had reached a point where he loathed but one thing more +than he did silk hosiery, and that one thing was himself.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_VI" name="Ch_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h3> +<h2>HAROLD PLAYS THE RAVEN.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Mason Compton, president and general manager, sat in his private +office in the works of the International Machine Company, chewing +upon an unlighted cigar and occasionally running his fingers +through his iron-gray hair as he compared and recompared two +statements which lay upon the desk before him.</p> +<p>“Damn strange,” he muttered as he touched a button +beneath the edge of his desk. A boy entered the room. “Ask +Mr. Bince if he will be good enough to step in here a moment, +please,” said Compton; and a moment later, when Harold Bince +entered, the older man leaned back in his chair and motioned the +other to be seated.</p> +<p>“I can’t understand these statements, Harold,” +said Compton. “Here is one for August of last year and this +is this August’s statement of costs. We never had a better +month in the history of this organization than last month, and yet +our profits are not commensurate with the volume of business that +we did. That’s the reason I sent for these cost statements +and have compared them, and I find that our costs have increased +out of all proportions to what is warranted. How do you account for +it?”</p> +<p>“Principally the increased cost of labor,” replied +Bince. “The same holds true of everybody else. Every +manufacturer in the country is in the same plight we +are.”</p> +<p>“I know,” agreed Compton, “that that is true +to some measure. Both labor and raw materials have advanced, but we +have advanced our prices correspondingly. In some instances it +seems to me that our advance in prices, particularly on our +specialties, should have given us even a handsomer profit over the +increased cost of production than we formerly received.</p> +<p>“In the last six months since I appointed you assistant +manager I am afraid that I have sort of let things get out of my +grasp. I have a lot of confidence in you, Harold, and now that you +and Elizabeth are engaged I feel even more inclined to let you +shoulder the responsibilities that I have carried alone from the +inception of this organization. But I’ve got to be mighty +sure that you are going to do at least as well as I did. You have +shown a great deal of ability, but you are young and haven’t +had the advantage of the years of experience that made it possible +for me to finally develop a business second to none in this line in +the West.</p> +<p>“I never had a son, and after Elizabeth’s mother +died I have lived in the hope somehow that she would marry the sort +of chap who would really take the place of such a son as every man +dreams of—some one who will take his place and carry on his +work when he is ready to lay aside his tools. I liked your father, +Harold. He was one of the best friends that I ever had, and I can +tell you now what I couldn’t have you a month ago: that when +I employed you and put you in this position it was with the hope +that eventually you would fill the place in my business and in my +home of the son I never had.”</p> +<p>“Do you think Elizabeth guessed what was in your +mind?” asked Bince.</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” replied the older man. +“I have tried never to say anything to influence her. Years +ago when she was younger we used to talk about it half jokingly and +shortly after you told me of your engagement she remarked to me one +day that she was happy, for she knew you were going to be the sort +of son I had wanted.</p> +<p>“I haven’t anybody on earth but her, Harold, and +when I die she gets the business. I have arranged it in my will so +you two will share and share alike in profits after I go, but that +will be some time. I am far from being an old man, and I am a +mighty healthy one. However, I should like to be relieved of the +active management. There are a lot of things that I have always +wanted to do that I couldn’t do because I couldn’t +spare the time from my business.</p> +<p>“And so I want you to get thoroughly into the harness as +soon as possible, that I may turn over the entire management to you. +But I can’t do it, Harold, while the profits are +diminishing.”</p> +<p>As the older man’s gaze fell again to statements before +him the eyes of the younger man narrowed just a trifle as they rested +upon Mason Compton, and then as the older man looked up +Bince’s expression changed.</p> +<p>“I’ll do my best, sir,” he said, smiling. +“Of course I realize, as you must, that I have tried to learn +a great deal in a short time. I think I have reached a point now +where I pretty thoroughly grasp the possibilities and requirements +of my work, and I am sure that from now on you will note a decided +change for the better on the right side of the ledger.”</p> +<p>“I am sure of it, my boy,” said Compton heartily. +“Don’t think that I have been finding fault with +anything you have done. I just wanted to call your attention to +these figures. They mean something, and it’s up to you to +find out just what they do mean.”</p> +<p>And then there came a light tap on the door, which opened +immediately before any summons to enter had been given, and +Elizabeth Compton entered, followed by another young woman.</p> +<p>“Hello, there!” exclaimed Compton. “What gets +us out so early? And Harriet too! There is only one thing that +would bring you girls in here so early.”</p> +<p>“And what’s that?” asked Elizabeth.</p> +<p>“You are going shopping, and Elizabeth wants some +money.”</p> +<p>They all laughed. “You’re a regular Sherlock +Holmes!” exclaimed Harriet Holden.</p> +<p>“How much?” asked Compton of his daughter, still +smiling.</p> +<p>“How much have you?” asked Elizabeth. “I am +utterly broke.”</p> +<p>Compton turned to Bince. “Get her what she needs, +Harold,” he said.</p> +<p>The young man started to the door.</p> +<p>“Come with me, Elizabeth,” he said; “we will +go out to the cashier’s cage and get you fixed up.”</p> +<p>They entered Bince’s office, which adjoined +Compton’s.</p> +<p>“Wait here a minute, Elizabeth,” said Bince. +“How much do you want? I’ll get it for you and bring it +back. I want to see you a moment alone before you go.”</p> +<p>She told him how much she wanted, and he was back shortly with +the currency.</p> +<p>“Elizabeth,” he said, “I don’t know +whether you have noticed it or not, because your father isn’t +a man to carry his troubles home, but I believe that he is failing +rapidly, largely from overwork. He worries about conditions here +which really do not exist. I have been trying to take the load off +his shoulders so that he could ease up a bit, but he has got into a +rut from which he cannot be guided.</p> +<p>“He will simply have to be lifted completely out of it, or +he will stay here and die in the harness. Everything is running +splendidly, and now that I have a good grasp of the business I can +handle it. Don’t you suppose you could persuade him to take a +trip? I know that he wants to travel. He has told me so several +times, and if he could get away from here this fall and stay away +for a year, if possible, it would make a new man of him. I am +really very much worried about him, and while I hate to worry you I +feel that you are the only person who can influence him and that +something ought to be done and done at once.”</p> +<p>“Why, Harold,” exclaimed the girl, “there is +nothing the matter with father! He was never better in his life nor +more cheerful.”</p> +<p>“That’s the side of him that he lets you see,” +replied the man. “His gaiety is all forced. If you could see +him after you leave you would realize that he is on the verge of a +nervous breakdown. Your father is not an old man in years, but he +has placed a constant surtax on his nervous system for the last +twenty-five years without a let-up, and it doesn’t make any +difference how good a machine may be it is going to wear out some +day, and the better the machine the more complete will be the wreck +when the final break occurs.”</p> +<p>As he spoke he watched the girl’s face, the changing +expression of it, which marked her growing mental perturbation.</p> +<p>“You really believe it is as bad as that, Harold?” +she asked.</p> +<p>“It may be worse than I think,” he said. “It +is surely fully as bad.”</p> +<p>The girl rose slowly from the chair. “I will try and +persuade him to see Dr. Earle.”</p> +<p>The man took a step toward her. “I don’t believe a +doctor is what he needs,” he said quickly. “His +condition is one that even a nerve specialist might not diagnose +correctly. It is only some one in a position like mine, who has an +opportunity to observe him almost hourly, day by day, who would +realize his condition. I doubt if he has any organic trouble +whatever. What he needs is a long rest, entirely free from any +thought whatever of business. At least, Elizabeth, it will do him +no harm, and it may prolong his life for years. I wouldn’t go +messing around with any of these medical chaps.”</p> +<p>“Well,” she said at last, with a sigh, “I will +talk to him and see if I can’t persuade him to take a trip. +He has always wanted to visit Japan and China.”</p> +<p>“Just the thing!” exclaimed Bince; “just the +thing for him. The long sea voyage will do him a world of good. And +now,” he said, stepping to her side and putting an arm around +her.</p> +<p>She pushed him gently away.</p> +<p>“No,” she said; “I do not feel like kissing +now,” and turning she entered her father’s office, +followed by Bince.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_VII" name="Ch_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h3> +<h2>JOBLESS AGAIN.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>From her father’s works Elizabeth and Harriet drove to the +shopping district, where they strolled through a couple of shops +and then stopped at one of the larger stores.</p> +<p>Jimmy Torrance was arranging his stock, fully nine-tenths of +which he could have sworn he had just shown an elderly spinster who +had taken at least half an hour of his time and then left without +making a purchase. His back was toward his counter when his +attention was attracted by a feminine voice asking if he was busy. +As he turned about he recognized her instantly—the girl for +whom he had changed a wheel a month before and who unconsciously +had infused new ambition into his blood and saved him, temporarily +at least, from becoming a quitter.</p> +<p>He noticed as he waited on her that she seemed to be appraising +him very carefully, and at times there was a slightly puzzled +expression on her face, but evidently she did not recognize him, +and finally when she had concluded her purchases he was +disappointed that she paid for them in cash. He had rather hoped +that she would have them charged and sent, that he might learn her +name and address. And then she left, with Jimmy none the wiser +concerning her other than that her first name was Elizabeth and +that she was even better-looking than he recalled her to have +been.</p> +<p>“And the girl with her!” exclaimed Jimmy mentally. +“She was no slouch either. They are the two best-looking +girls I have seen in this town, notwithstanding the fact that +whether one likes Chicago or not he’s got to admit that there +are more pretty girls here than in any other city in the +country.</p> +<p>“I’m glad she didn’t recognize me. Of course, +I don’t know her, and the chances are that I never shall, but +I should hate to have any one recognize me here, or hereafter, as +that young man at the stocking counter. Gad! but it’s beastly +that a regular life-sized man should be selling stockings to women +for a living, or rather for a fraction of a living.”</p> +<p>While Jimmy had always been hugely disgusted with his position, +the sight of the girl seemed to have suddenly crystallized all +those weeks of self-contempt into a sudden almost mad desire to +escape what he considered his degrading and effeminating +surroundings. One must bear with Jimmy and judge him leniently, for +after all, notwithstanding his college diploma and physique, he was +still but a boy and so while it is difficult for a mature and sober +judgment to countenance his next step, if one can look back a few +years to his own youth he can at least find extenuating +circumstances surrounding Jimmy’s seeming foolishness.</p> +<p>For with a bang that caused startled clerks in all directions to +look up from their work he shattered the decorous monotone of the +great store by slamming his sales book viciously upon the counter, +and without a word of explanation to his fellow clerks marched out +of the section toward the buyer’s desk.</p> +<p>“Well, Mr. Torrance,” asked that gentleman, +“what can I do for you?”</p> +<p>“I am going to quit,” announced Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Quit!”’ exclaimed the buyer. “Why, +what’s wrong? Isn’t everything perfectly satisfactory? +You have never complained to me.”</p> +<p>“I can’t explain,” replied Jimmy. “I am +going to quit. I am not satisfied. I am going to +er—ah—accept another position.”</p> +<p>The buyer raised his eyebrows. “Ah!” he said. +“With—” and he named their closest +competitor.</p> +<p>“No,” said Jimmy. “I am going to get a regular +he-job.”</p> +<p>The other smiled. “If an increase in salary,” he +suggested, “would influence you, I had intended to tell you +that I would take care of you beginning next week. I thought of +making it fifteen dollars,” and with that unanswerable +argument for Jimmy’s continued service the buyer sat back and +folded his hands.</p> +<p>“Nothing stirring,” said Jimmy. “I +wouldn’t sell another sock if you paid me ten thousand +dollars a year. I am through.”</p> +<p>“Oh, very well,” said the buyer aggrievedly, +“but if you leave me this way you will be unable to refer to +the house.”</p> +<p>But nothing, not even a team of oxen, could have held Jimmy in +that section another minute, and so he got his pay and left with +nothing more in view than a slow death by starvation.</p> +<p>“There,” exclaimed Elizabeth Compton, as she sank +back on the cushions of her car.</p> +<p>“There what?” asked Harriet.</p> +<p>“I have placed him.”</p> +<p>“Whom?”</p> +<p>“That nice-looking young person who waited on us in the +hosiery section.”</p> +<p>“Oh!” said Harriet. “He was nice-looking, +wasn’t he? But he looked out of place there, and I think he +felt out of place. Did you notice how he flushed when he asked you +what size?” and the girls laughed heartily at the +recollection. “But where have you ever met him before?” +Harriet asked.</p> +<p>“I have never met him,” corrected Elizabeth, +accenting the “met.” “He changed a wheel on the +roadster several weeks ago one evening after I had taken Harold +down to the club. And he was very nice about it. I should say that +he is a gentleman, although his clothes were pretty badly +worn.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Harriet, “his suit was shabby, but +his linen was clean and his coat well brushed.”</p> +<p>“My!” exclaimed Elizabeth. “He must have made +an impression on some one.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said Harriet, “it isn’t often +you see such a nice-looking chap in the hosiery section.”</p> +<p>“No,” said Elizabeth, “and probably if he were +as nice as he looks he wouldn’t be there.”</p> +<p>Whereupon the subject was changed, and she promptly forgot Mr. +Jimmy Torrance. But Jimmy was not destined soon to forget her, for +as the jobless days passed and he realized more and more what an +ass he had made of himself, and why, he had occasion to think about +her a great deal, although never in any sense reproaching her. He +realized that the fault was his own and that he had done a foolish +thing in giving up his position because of a girl he did not know +and probably never would.</p> +<p>There came a Saturday when Jimmy, jobless and fundless, dreaded +his return to the Indiana Avenue rooming-house, where he knew the +landlady would be eagerly awaiting him, for he was a week in +arrears in his room rent already, and had been warned he could +expect no further credit.</p> +<p>“There is a nice young man wanting your room,” the +landlady had told him, “and I shall have to be having it +Saturday night unless you can pay up.”</p> +<p>Jimmy stood on the corner of Clark and Van Buren looking at his +watch. “I hate to do it,” he thought, “but the +Lizard said he could get twenty for it, and twenty would give me +another two weeks.” And so his watch went, and two weeks +later his cigarette-case and ring followed. Jimmy had never gone in +much for jewelry—a fact which he now greatly lamented.</p> +<p>Some of the clothes he still had were good, though badly in want +of pressing, and when, after still further days of fruitless +searching for work the proceeds from the articles he had pawned +were exhausted, it occurred to him he might raise something on all +but what he actually needed to cover his nakedness.</p> +<p>In his search for work he was still wearing his best-looking +suit; the others he would dispose of; and with this plan in his +mind on his return to his room that night he went to the tiny +closet to make a bundle of the things which he would dispose of on +the morrow, only to discover that in his absence some one had been +there before him, and that there was nothing left for him to +sell.</p> +<p>It would be two days before his room rent was again due, but in +the mean time Jimmy had no money wherewith to feed the inner man. +It was an almost utterly discouraged Jimmy who crawled into his bed +to spend a sleepless night of worry and vain regret, the principal +object of his regret being that he was not the son of a blacksmith +who had taught him how to shoe horses and who at the same time had +been too poor to send him to college.</p> +<p>Long since there had been driven into his mind the conviction +that for any practical purpose in life a higher education was as +useless as the proverbial fifth wheel to the coach.</p> +<p>“And even,” mused Jimmy, “if I had graduated +at the head of my class, I would be no better off than I am +now.”</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_VIII" name="Ch_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> +<h2>BREAD FROM THE WATERS.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The next day, worn out from loss of sleep, the young man started +out upon a last frenzied search for employment. He had no money for +breakfast, and so he went breakfastless, and as he had no carfare +it was necessary for him to walk the seemingly interminable miles +from one prospective job to another. By the middle of the afternoon +Jimmy was hungrier than he had ever been before in his life. He was +so hungry that it actually hurt, and he was weak from physical +fatigue and from disappointment and worry.</p> +<p>“I’ve got to eat,” he soliloquized fiercely, +“if I have to go out to-night and pound somebody on the head +to get the price, and I’m going to do it,” he concluded +as the odors of cooking food came to him from a cheap restaurant +which he was passing. He stopped a moment and looked into the +window at the catsup bottles and sad-looking pies which the +proprietor apparently seemed to think formed an artistic and +attractive window display.</p> +<p>“If I had a brick,” thought Jimmy, “I would +have one of those pies, even if I went to the jug for it,” +but his hunger had not made him as desperate as he thought he was, +and so he passed slowly on, and, glancing into the windows of the +store next door, saw a display of second-hand clothes and the sign +“Clothes Bought and Sold.”</p> +<p>Jimmy looked at those in the window and then down at his own, +which, though wrinkled, were infinitely better than anything on +display.</p> +<p>“I wonder,” he mused, “if I couldn’t put +something over in the way of high finance here,” and, acting +upon the inspiration, he entered the dingy little shop. When he +emerged twenty minutes later he wore a shabby and rather +disreputable suit of hand-me-downs, but he had two silver dollars +in his pocket.</p> +<p>When Jimmy returned to his room that night it was with a full +stomach, but with the knowledge that he had practically reached the +end of his rope. He had been unable to bring himself to the point +of writing his father an admission of his failure, and in fact he +had gone so far, and in his estimation had sunk so low, that he had +definitely determined he would rather starve to death now than +admit his utter inefficiency to those whose respect he most +valued.</p> +<p>As he climbed the stairway to his room he heard some one +descending from above, and as they passed beneath the dim light of +a flickering gas-jet he realized that the other stopped suddenly +and turned back to look after him as Jimmy continued his ascent of +the stairs; and then a low voice inquired:</p> +<p>“Say, bo, what you doin’ here?”</p> +<p>Jimmy turned toward the questioner.</p> +<p>“Oh!” he exclaimed as recognition of the other +dawned slowly upon him. “It’s you, is it? My old and +esteemed friend, the Lizard.”</p> +<p>“Sure, it’s me,” replied the Lizard. +“But what you doin’ here? Looking for an assistant +general manager?”</p> +<p>Jimmy grinned.</p> +<p>“Don’t rub it in,” he said, still smiling.</p> +<p>The other ascended toward him, his keen eyes appraising him from +head to foot.</p> +<p>“You live here?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Yes,” replied Jimmy; “do you?”</p> +<p>“Sure, I been livin’ here for the last six +months.”</p> +<p>“That’s funny,” said Jimmy; “I have been +here about two months myself.”</p> +<p>“What’s the matter with you?” asked the +Lizard. “Didn’t you like the job as general +manager?”</p> +<p>Jimmy flushed.</p> +<p>“Forget it,” he admonished.</p> +<p>“Where’s your room?” asked the Lizard.</p> +<p>“Up another flight,” said Jimmy. “Won’t +you come up?”</p> +<p>“Sure,” said the Lizard, and together the two +ascended the stairs and entered Jimmy’s room. Under the +brighter light there the Lizard scrutinized his host.</p> +<p>“You been against it, bo, haven’t you?” he +asked.</p> +<p>“I sure have,” said Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Gee,” said the other, “what a difference +clothes make! You look like a regular bum.”</p> +<p>“Thanks,” said Jimmy.</p> +<p>“What you doin’?” asked the Lizard.</p> +<p>“Nothing.”</p> +<p>“Lose your job?”</p> +<p>“I quit it,” said Jimmy. “I’ve only +worked a month since I’ve been here, and that for the +munificent salary of ten dollars a week.”</p> +<p>“Do you want to make some coin?” asked the +Lizard.</p> +<p>“I sure do,” said Jimmy. “I don’t know +of anything I would rather have.”</p> +<p>“I’m pullin’ off something to-morrow night. I +can use you,” and he eyed Jimmy shrewdly as he spoke.</p> +<p>“Cracking a box?” asked Jimmy, grinning.</p> +<p>“It might be something like that,” replied the +Lizard; “but you won’t have nothin’ to do but +stand where I put you and make a noise like a cat if you see +anybody coming. It ought to be something good. I been working on it +for three months. We’ll split something like fifty thousand +thirty-seventy.”</p> +<p>“Is that the usual percentage?” asked Jimmy.</p> +<p>“It’s what I’m offerin’ you,” +replied the lizard.</p> +<p>Thirty per cent of fifty thousand dollars! Jimmy jingled the few +pieces of silver remaining in his pocket. Fifteen thousand dollars! +And here he had been walking his legs off and starving in a vain +attempt to earn a few paltry dollars honestly.</p> +<p>“There’s something wrong somewhere,” muttered +Jimmy to himself.</p> +<p>“I’m taking it from an old crab who has more than he +can use, and all of it he got by robbing people that didn’t +have any to spare. He’s a big guy here. When anything big is +doing the newspaper guys interview him and his name is in all the +lists of subscriptions to charity—when they’re going to +be published in the papers. I’ll bet he takes nine-tenths of +his kale from women and children, and he’s an honored +citizen. I ain’t no angel, but whatever I’ve taken +didn’t cause nobody any sufferin’—I’m a +thief, bo, and I’m mighty proud of it when I think of what +this other guy is.”</p> +<p>Thirty per cent of fifty thousand dollars! Jimmy was sitting +with his legs crossed. He looked down at his ill-fitting, shabby +trousers, and then turned up the sole of one shoe which was worn +through almost to his sock. The Lizard watched him as a cat watches +a mouse. He knew that the other was thinking hard, and that +presently he would reach a decision, and through Jimmy’s mind +marched a sordid and hateful procession of recent +events—humiliation, rebuff, shame, poverty, hunger, and in +the background the face of his father and the face of a girl whose +name, even, he did not know.</p> +<p>Presently he looked up at the Lizard.</p> +<p>“Nothing doing, old top,” he said. “But +don’t mistake the motives which prompt me to refuse your +glittering offer. I am moved by no moral scruples, however +humiliating such a confession should be. The way I feel now I would +almost as lief go out and rob widows and orphans myself, but each +of us, some time in our life, has to consider some one who would +probably rather see us dead than disgraced. I don’t know +whether you get me or not.”</p> +<p>“I get you,” replied the Lizard, “and while +you may never wear diamonds, you’ll get more pleasure out of +life than I ever will, provided you don’t starve to death too +soon. You know, I had a hunch you would turn me down, and I’m +glad you did. If you were going crooked some time I thought +I’d like to have you with me. When it comes to men, I’m +a pretty good picker. That’s the reason I have kept out of +jail so long. I either pick a square one or I work +alone.”</p> +<p>“Thanks,” said Jimmy, “but how do you know +that after you pull this job I won’t tip off the police and +claim the reward.”</p> +<p>The Lizard grinned his lip grin.</p> +<p>“There ain’t one chance in a million,” he +said. “You’d starve to death before you’d do it. +And now, what you want is a job. I can probably get you one if you +ain’t too particular.”</p> +<p>“I’d do +anything,” said Jimmy, “that I could do and still look +a policeman in the face.”</p> +<p>“All right,” said the Lizard. “When I come +back I’ll bring you a job of some sort. I may be back +to-night, and I may not be back again for a month, and in the mean +time you got to live.”</p> +<p>He drew a roll of bills from his pocket and commenced to count +out several.</p> +<p>“Hold on!” cried Jimmy. “Once again, nothing +doing.”</p> +<p>“Forget it,” admonished the Lizard. “I’m +just payin’ back the twenty you loaned me.”</p> +<p>“But I didn’t loan it to you,” said Jimmy; +“I gave it to you as a reward for finding my +watch.”</p> +<p>The Lizard laughed and shoved the money across the table.</p> +<p>“Take it,” he said; “don’t be a damn +fool. And now so-long! I may bring you home a job to-night, but if +I don’t you’ve got enough to live on for a couple of +weeks.”</p> +<p>After the Lizard had gone Jimmy sat looking at the twenty +dollars for a long time.</p> +<p>“That fellow may be a thief,” he soliloquized, +“but whatever he is he’s white. Just imagine, the only +friend I’ve got in Chicago is a safe-blower.”</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_IX" name="Ch_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h3> +<h2>HAROLD SITS IN A GAME.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>When Elizabeth Compton broached to her father the subject of a +much-needed rest and a trip to the Orient, he laughed at her. “Why, +girl,” he cried, “I was never better in my life! Where +in the world did you get this silly idea?”</p> +<p>“Harold noticed it first,” she replied, “and +called my attention to it; and now I can see that you really have +been failing.”</p> +<p>“Failing!” ejaculated Compton, with a scoff. +“Failing nothing! You’re a pair of young idiots. +I’m good for twenty years more of hard work, but, as I told +Harold, I would like to quit and travel, and I shall do so just as +soon as I am convinced that he can take my place.”</p> +<p>“Couldn’t he do it now?” asked the girl.</p> +<p>“No, I am afraid not,” replied Compton. “It is +too much to expect of him, but I believe that in another year he +will be able to.”</p> +<p>And so Compton put an end to the suggestion that he travel for +his health, and that night when Bince called she told him that she +had been unable to persuade her father that he needed a rest.</p> +<p>“I am afraid,” he said, “that you don’t +take it seriously enough yourself, and that you failed to impress +upon him the real gravity of his condition. It is really necessary +that he go—he must go.”</p> +<p>The girl looked up quickly at the speaker, whose tones seemed +unnecessarily vehement.</p> +<p>“I don’t quite understand,” she said, +“why you should take the matter so to heart. Father is the +best judge of his own condition, and, while he may need a rest, I +cannot see that he is in any immediate danger.”</p> +<p>“Oh, +well,” replied Bince irritably, “I just wanted him to +get away for his own sake. Of course, it don’t mean anything +to me.”</p> +<p>“What’s the matter with you tonight, anyway, +Harold?” she asked a half an hour later. “You’re +as cross and disagreeable as you can be.”</p> +<p>“No, I’m not,” he said. “There is +nothing the matter with me at all.”</p> +<p>But his denial failed to convince her, and as, unusually early, +a few minutes later he left, she realized that she had spent a most +unpleasant evening.</p> +<p>Bince went directly to his club, where he found four other men +who were evidently awaiting him.</p> +<p>“Want to sit in a little game to-night, Harold?” +asked one of them.</p> +<p>“Oh, hell,” replied Bince, “you fellows have +been sitting here all evening waiting for me. You know I want to. +My luck’s got to change some time.”</p> +<p>“Sure thing it has,” agreed another of the men. +“You certainly have been playing in rotten luck, but when it +does change—oh, baby!”</p> +<p>As the five men entered one of the cardrooms several of the +inevitable spectators drew away from the other games and approached +their table, for it was a matter of club gossip that these five +played for the largest stakes of any coterie among the habitues of +the card-room.</p> +<p>It was two o’clock in the morning before Bince disgustedly +threw his cards upon the table and rose. There was a nasty +expression on his face and in his mind a thing which he did not +dare voice—the final crystallization of a suspicion that he +had long harbored, that his companions had been for months +deliberately fleecing him. Tonight he had lost five thousand +dollars, nor was there a man at the table who did not hold his I. +O. U’s. for similar amounts.</p> +<p>“I’m through, absolutely through,” he said. +“I’ll be damned if I ever touch another +card.”</p> +<p>His companions only smiled wearily, for they knew that to-morrow +night he would be back at the table.</p> +<p>“How much of old man Compton’s money did you get +tonight?” asked one of the four after Bince had left the +room.</p> +<p>“About two thousand dollars,” was the reply, +“which added to what I already hold, puts Mr. Compton in my +debt some seven or eight thousand dollars.”</p> +<p>Whereupon they all laughed.</p> +<p>“I suppose,” remarked anther, “that it’s +a damn shame, but if we don’t get it some one else +will.”</p> +<p>“Is he paying anything at all?” asked another.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes; he comes across with something now and then, but +we’ll probably have to carry the bulk of it until after the +wedding.”</p> +<p>“Well, I can’t carry it forever,” said the +first speaker. “I’m not playing here for my +health,” and, rising, he too left the room. Going directly to +the buffet, he found Bince, as he was quite sure that he would.</p> +<p>“Look here, old man,” he said, “I hate to seem +insistent, but, on the level, I’ve got to have some +money.”</p> +<p>“I’ve told you two or three times,”’ +replied Bince, “that I’d let you have it as soon as I +could get it. I can’t get you any now.”</p> +<p>“If you haven’t got it, Mason Compton has,” +retorted the creditor, “and if you don’t come across +I’ll go to him and get it.”</p> +<p>Bince paled.</p> +<p>“You wouldn’t do that, Harry?” he almost +whimpered. “For God’s sake, don’t do that, and +I’ll try and see what I can do for you.”</p> +<p>“Well,” replied the other, “I don’t want +to be nasty, but I need some money badly.”</p> +<p>“Give me a little longer,” begged Bince, “and +I’ll see what I can do.”</p> +<p>Jimmy Torrance sat a long time in thought after the Lizard left. +“God!” he muttered. “I wonder what dad would say +if he knew that I had come to a point where I had even momentarily +considered going into partnership with a safe-blower, and that for +the next two weeks I shall be compelled to subsist upon the charity +of a criminal?</p> +<p>“I’m sure glad that I have a college education. It +has helped me materially to win to my present exalted standing in +society. Oh, well I might be worse off, I suppose. At least I +don’t have to worry about the income tax.</p> +<p>“It is now October, and since the first of the year I have +earned forty dollars exactly. I have also received a bequest of +twenty dollars, which of course is exempt. I venture to say that +there is not another able-bodied adult male in the United States +the making of whose income-tax schedule would be simpler than +mine.”</p> +<p>With which philosophic trend of thought, and the knowledge that +he could eat for at least two weeks longer, the erstwhile star +amateur first baseman sought the doubtful comfort of his narrow, +lumpy bed.</p> +<p>It was in the neighborhood of two o’clock the next morning +that he was awakened by a gentle tapping upon the panels of his +door.</p> +<p>“Who is it?” he asked. “What do you +want?”</p> +<p>“It’s me bo,” came the whispered reply in the +unmistakable tones of the Lizard.</p> +<p>Jimmy arose, lighted the gas, and opened the door.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?” he whispered.</p> +<p>“Are the police on your trail?”</p> +<p>“No,” +replied the Lizard, grinning. “I just dropped in to tell you +that I grabbed a job for you.”</p> +<p>“Fine!” exclaimed Jimmy. “You’re a +regular fellow all right.”</p> +<p>“But you might not like the job,” suggested the +Lizard.</p> +<p>“As long as I can earn an honest dollar,” cried +Jimmy, striking a dramatic pose, “I care not what it may +be.”</p> +<p>The Lizard’s grin broadened.</p> +<p>“I ain’t so sure about that,” he said. +“I know your kind. You’re a regular gent. There is some +honest jobs that you would just as soon have as the smallpox, and +maybe this is one of them.”</p> +<p>“What is it?” asked Jimmy. “Don’t keep +me guessing any longer.”</p> +<p>“You know Feinheimer’s Cabaret.”</p> +<p>“The basement joint on Wells Street?” asked Jimmy. +“Sure I know it.”</p> +<p>“Well, that’s where I got you a job,” said the +Lizard.</p> +<p>“What doing?” asked Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Waiter,” was the reply.</p> +<p>“It isn’t any worse than standing behind a counter, +selling stockings to women,” said Jimmy.</p> +<p>“It ain’t such a bad job,” admitted the Lizard, +“if a guy ain’t too swelled up. Some of ‘em make +a pretty good thing out of it, what with their tips and short +changing—Oh, there are lots of little ways to get yours at +Feinheimer’s.”</p> +<p>“I see,” said Jimmy; “but don’t he pay +any wages?”</p> +<p>“Oh, sure,” replied the Lizard; “you get the +union scale.”</p> +<p>“When do I go to work?”</p> +<p>“Go around and see him to-morrow morning. He will put you +right to work.”</p> +<p>And so the following evening the patrons of Feinheimer’s +Cabaret saw a new face among the untidy servitors of the +establishment—a new face and a new figure, both of which +looked out of place in the atmosphere of the basement resort.</p> +<p>Feinheimer’s Cabaret held a unique place among the +restaurants of the city. Its patrons were from all classes of +society. At noon its many tables were largely filled by staid and +respectable business men, but at night a certain element of the +underworld claimed it as their own, and there was always a +sprinkling of people of the stage, artists, literary men and +politicians. It was, as a certain wit described it, a social +goulash, for in addition to its regular habitues there were those +few who came occasionally from the upper stratum of society in the +belief that they were doing something devilish. As a matter of +fact, slumming parties which began and ended at Feinheimer’s +were of no uncommon occurrence, and as the place was more than +usually orderly it was with the greatest safety that society made +excursions into the underworld of crime and vice through its +medium.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_X" name="Ch_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h3> +<h2>AT FEINHEIMER’S.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Feinheimer liked Jimmy’s appearance. He was big and +strong, and the fact that Feinheimer always retained one or two +powerful men upon his payroll accounted in a large measure for the +orderliness of his place. Occasionally one might start something at +Feinheimer’s, but no one was ever known to finish what he +started.</p> +<p>And so Jimmy found himself waiting upon table at a place that +was both reputable and disreputable, serving business men at noon +and criminals and the women of the underworld at night. In the +weeks that he was there he came to know many of the local +celebrities in various walks of life, to know them at least by +name. There was Steve Murray, the labor leader, whom rumor said was +one of Feinheimer’s financial backers—a large man with +a loud voice and the table manners of a Duroc-Jersey. Jimmy took an +instinctive dislike to the man the first time that he saw him.</p> +<p>And then there was Little Eva, whose real name was Edith. She +was a demure looking little girl, who came in every afternoon at +four o’clock for her breakfast. She usually came to +Jimmy’s table when it was vacant, and at four o’clock +she always ate alone. Later in the evening she would come in again +with a male escort, who was never twice the same.</p> +<p>“I wonder what’s the matter with me?” she said +to Jimmy one day as he was serving her breakfast. “I’m +getting awfully nervous.”</p> +<p>“That’s quite remarkable,” said Jimmy. +“I should think any one who smoked as many cigarettes and +drank as much whisky as you would have perfect nerves.”</p> +<p>The girl laughed, a rather soft and mellow laugh. “I +suppose I do hit it up a little strong,” she said.</p> +<p>“Strong?” exclaimed Jimmy. “Why, if I drank +half what you do I’d be in the Washingtonian Home in a +week.”</p> +<p>She looked at him quizzically for a moment, as she had looked at +him often since he had gone to work for Feinheimer.</p> +<p>“You’re a funny guy,” she said. “I +can’t quite figure you out. What are you doing here +anyway?”</p> +<p>“I never claimed to be much of a waiter,” said +Jimmy, “but I didn’t know I was so rotten that a +regular customer of the place couldn’t tell what I was trying +to do.”</p> +<p>“Oh, go on,” she cried; “I don’t mean +that. These other hash-slingers around here look the part. Aside +from that, about the only thing they know how to do is roll a +souse; but you’re different.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Jimmy, “I am different. My +abilities are limited. All I can do is wait on table, while they +have two accomplishments.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you don’t have to tell me,” said the +girl. “I wasn’t rubbering. I was just sort of +interested in you.”</p> +<p>“Thanks,” said Jimmy.</p> +<p>She went on with her breakfast while Jimmy set up an adjoining +table. Presently when he came to fill her water-glass she looked up +at him again.</p> +<p>“I like you, kid,” she said. “You’re not +fresh. You know what I am as well as the rest of them, but you wait +on me just the same as you would on”—she hesitated and +there was a little catch in her voice as she finished her +sentence—“just the same as you would on a decent +girl.”</p> +<p>Jimmy looked at her in surprise. It was the first indication +that he had ever had from an habitue of Feinheimer’s that +there might lurk within their breasts any of the finer +characteristics whose outward indices are pride and shame. He was +momentarily at a loss as to what to say, and as he hesitated the +girl’s gaze went past him and she exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Look who’s here!”</p> +<p>Jimmy turned to look at the newcomer, and saw the Lizard +directly behind him.</p> +<p>“Howdy, bo,” said his benefactor. “I thought +I’d come in and give you the once-over. And here’s +Little Eva with a plate of ham and at four o’clock in the +afternoon.”</p> +<p>The Lizard dropped into a chair at the table with the girl, and +after Jimmy had taken his order and departed for the kitchen Little +Eva jerked her thumb toward his retreating figure.</p> +<p>“Friend of yours?” she asked.</p> +<p>“He might have a worse friend,” replied the Lizard +non-committally.</p> +<p>“What’s his graft?” asked the girl.</p> +<p>“He ain’t got none except being on the square. +It’s funny,” the Lizard philosophized, “but +here’s me with a bank roll that would choke a horse, and you +probably with a stocking full of dough, and I’ll bet all the +money I ever had or ever expect to have if one of us could change +places with that poor simp we’d do it.”</p> +<p>“He is a square guy, isn’t he?” said the girl. +“You can almost tell it by looking at him. How did you come +to know him?”</p> +<p>“Oh, that’s a long story,” said the Lizard. +“We room at the same place, but I knew him before +that.”</p> +<p>“On Indiana near Eighteenth?” asked the girl.</p> +<p>“How the hell did you know?” he queried.</p> +<p>“I know a lot of things I ain’t supposed to +know,” replied she.</p> +<p>“You’re a wise guy, all right, Eva, and one thing I +like about you is that you don’t let anything you know hurt +you.”</p> +<p>And then, after a pause: “I like him,” she said. +“What’s his name?”</p> +<p>The Lizard eyed her for a moment.</p> +<p>“Don’t you get to liking him too much,” he said. “That +bird’s the class. He ain’t for any +little—”</p> +<p>“Cut it!” exclaimed the girl. “I’m as +good as you are and a damn straighter. What I get I earn, and I +don’t steal it.”</p> +<p>The Lizard grinned. “I guess you’re right at that; +but don’t try to pull him down any lower than he is. He is +coming up again some day to where he belongs.”</p> +<p>“I ain’t going to try to pull him down,” said +the girl. “And anyhow, when were you made his +godfather?”</p> +<p>Jimmy saw Eva almost daily for many weeks. He saw her at her +post-meridian breakfast—sober and subdued; he saw her later +in the evening, in various stages of exhilaration, but at those +times she did not come to his table and seldom if ever did he catch +her eye.</p> +<p>They talked a great deal while she breakfasted, and he learned +to like the girl and to realize that she possessed two +personalities. The one which he liked dominated her at breakfast; +the other which he loathed guided her actions later in the evening. +Neither of them ever referred to those hours of her life, and as +the days passed Jimmy found himself looking forward to the hour +when Little Eva would come to Feinheimer’s for her +breakfast.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XI" name="Ch_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h3> +<h2>CHRISTMAS EVE.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>It was Christmas Eve. Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were +completing the rounds of their friends’ homes with Christmas +remembrances—a custom that they had continued since +childhood. The last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, +and they were now being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward +home. Elizabeth directed the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to +State, which at this season of the year was almost alive with +belated Christmas shoppers and those other thousands who always +seize upon the slightest pretext for a celebration.</p> +<p>It was a noisy, joyous crowd whose spirit, harmonizing with the +bright lights and the gay shop windows, infected all who came +within its influence. As the car moved slowly northward along the +world’s greatest retail street the girls leaned forward to +watch the passing throng through the windows.</p> +<p>“Isn’t it wonderful,” exclaimed Harriet, +“what a transformation a few lights make? Who would ever +think of State Street as a fairy-land? And yet, if you half close +your eyes the hallucination is complete. Even the people who by +daylight are shoddy and care-worn take on an appearance of romance +and gaiety, and the tawdry colored lights are the scintillant gems +of the garden of a fairy prince.”</p> +<p>“Don’t!” Elizabeth pleaded. “The city +night always affects me. It makes me want to do something +adventurous, and on Christmas Eve it is even worse. If you keep on +like that I shall soon be telling David to drive us up and down +State Street all night.”</p> +<p>“I wish we didn’t have to go home right away,” +said Harriet. “I feel like doing something +devilish.”</p> +<p>“Well, let’s!” exclaimed Elizabeth.</p> +<p>“Do something devilish?” inquired Harriet. +“What, for instance?”</p> +<p>“Oh, ‘most anything that we shouldn’t +do,” replied Elizabeth, “and there isn’t anything +that we could do down here alone that we should do.”</p> +<p>They both laughed. “I have it!” exclaimed Elizabeth +suddenly. “We’ll be utterly abandoned—we’ll +have supper at Feinheimer’s without an escort.”</p> +<p>Harriet cast a horrified glance at her companion. “Why, +Elizabeth Compton,” she cried, “you wouldn’t +dare. You know you wouldn’t dare!”</p> +<p>“Do you dare me?” asked the other.</p> +<p>“But suppose some one should see us?” argued +Harriet. “Your father would never forgive us.”</p> +<p>“If we see any one in Feinheimer’s who knows +us,” argued Elizabeth shrewdly, “they will be just as +glad to forget it as we. And anyway it will do it no harm. I +shall have David stay right outside the door so that if I call him +he can come. I don’t know what I would do without David. He +is a sort of Rock of Ages and Gibraltar all in one.”</p> +<p>Through the speaking-tube Elizabeth directed David to drive to +Feinheimer’s, and, whatever David may have thought of the +order, he gave no outward indication of it.</p> +<p>Christmas Eve at Feinheimer’s is, or was, a riot of +unconfined hilarity, although the code of ethics of the place was +on a higher plane than that which governed the Christmas Eve and +New Year’s Eve patrons of so-called respectable restaurants, +where a woman is not safe from insult even though she be properly +escorted, while in Feinheimer’s a woman with an escort was +studiously avoided by the other celebrators unless she chose to +join with them. As there was only one class of women who came to +Feinheimer’s at night without escort, the male habitues had +no difficulty in determining who they might approach and who they +might not.</p> +<p>Jimmy Torrance was as busy as a cranberry merchant. He had four +tables to attend to, and while the amount of food he served grew +more and more negligible as the evening progressed, his trips to +the bar were exceedingly frequent. One of his tables had been vacated +for a few minutes when, upon his return from the bar with a round +of drinks for Steve Murray and his party he saw that two women had +entered and were occupying his fourth table. Their backs were +toward him, and he gave them but little attention other than to +note that they were unescorted and to immediately catalogue them +accordingly. Having distributed Steve Murray’s order, Jimmy +turned toward his new patrons, and, laying a menu card before each, +he stood between them waiting for their order.</p> +<p>“What shall we take?” asked Elizabeth of Harriet. +Then: “What have you that’s good?” and she looked +up at the waiter.</p> +<p>Jimmy prided himself upon self-control, and his serving at +Feinheimer’s had still further schooled him in the repression +of any outward indication of his emotions. For, as most men of his +class, he had a well-defined conception of what constituted a +perfect waiter, one of the requisites being utter indifference to +any of the affairs of his patrons outside of those things which +actually pertained to his duties as a servitor; but in this +instance Jimmy realized that he had come very close to revealing +the astonishment which he felt on seeing this girl in +Feinheimer’s and unescorted.</p> +<p>If Jimmy was schooled in self-control, Elizabeth Compton was +equally so. She recognized the waiter immediately, but not even by +a movement of an eyelid did she betray the fact; which may possibly +be accounted for by the fact that it meant little more to her than +as though she had chanced to see the same street-sweeper several +times in succession, although after he had left with their order +she asked Harriet if she, too, had recognized him.</p> +<p>“Immediately,” replied her friend. “It +doesn’t seem possible that such a good-looking chap should be +occupying such a menial position.”</p> +<p>“There must be something wrong with him,” rejoined +Elizabeth; “probably utterly inefficient.”</p> +<p>“Or he may have some vice,” suggested Harriet.</p> +<p>“He doesn’t look it,” said Elizabeth. +“He looks too utterly healthy for that. We’ve seen some +of these drug addicts in our own set, as you may readily recall. +No, I shouldn’t say that he was that.”</p> +<p>“I suppose the poor fellow has never had an +opportunity,” said Harriet. “He has a good face, his +eyes and forehead indicate intelligence, and his jaw is strong and +aggressive. Probably, though, he was raised in poverty and knows +nothing better than what he is doing now. It is too bad that some +of these poor creatures couldn’t have the advantages of +higher education.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Elizabeth, “it is too bad. Take a +man like that; with a college education he could attain almost any +decree of success he chose.”</p> +<p>“He certainly could,” agreed Harriet; and then +suddenly: “Why, what’s the matter, Elizabeth? Your face +is perfectly scarlet.”</p> +<p>The other girl tapped the floor with the toe of one boot +impatiently.</p> +<p>“That horrid creature at the next table just winked at +me,” she said disgustedly.</p> +<p>Harriet looked about in the direction her companion had +indicated, to see a large, overdressed man staring at them. There +was a smirk on his face, and as Harriet caught his eye she saw him +rise and, to her horror, realized that he was advancing toward +their table.</p> +<p>He stopped in front of them with his huge hands resting on the +edge of their table and looked down at Elizabeth.</p> +<p>“Hello, kiddo!” he said. “What are you going +to drink?”</p> +<p>Elizabeth gave the man one look such as would utterly have +frozen a male from her own stratum of society, but it had as little +effect upon Steve Murray’s self-assurance as the cork from a +popgun would have on the armored sides of a rhinoceros.</p> +<p>“All right,” said the man, “what’s the +use of asking? There’s only one thing when Steve Murray buys. +Here, waiter,” he yelled, pounding on the table. The nearest +waiter, who chanced not to be Jimmy, who was then in the kitchen, +came hurriedly forward. “Open up some wine,” commanded +Murray. “Come on, boys! Bring your chairs over here,” +he continued, addressing his companions; “let’s have a +little party.”</p> +<p>Elizabeth Compton rose.</p> +<p>“You will oblige me,” she said, “by leaving +our table.”</p> +<p>Steve Murray laughed uproariously. He had dropped into a chair +next to hers.</p> +<p>“That’s great!” he cried. “I guess you +don’t know who I am, kiddo. You won’t cop off anything +better in this joint than Steve Murray. Come on—let’s +be friends. That’s a good girl,” and before Elizabeth +realized the man’s intentions he had seized her wrist and +pulled her down into his lap.</p> +<p>It was this scene that broke upon Jimmy’s view as he +emerged from the kitchen with a laden tray. He saw Steve Murray +seize the girl, and he saw her struggling to free herself, and then +there was a mighty crash as Jimmy dropped the tray of steaming food +upon the floor and ran quickly forward.</p> +<p>Murray was endeavoring to draw the girl’s lips to his as +Jimmy’s hand shot between their faces and pushed that of the +man away. With his free arm he encircled the girl’s body and +attempted to draw her from her assailant.</p> +<p>“Cut it, Murray!” he commanded in a low tone of +voice. “She isn’t your sort.”</p> +<p>“Who the hell are you?” cried the labor leader, +releasing the girl and rising to his feet. “Get the hell out +of here, you dirty hash-slinger! Any girl in this place belongs to +me if I want her. There don’t only one kind come in here +without an escort, or with one, either, for that matter. You get +back on your job, where you belong,” and the man pressed +forward trying to push Jimmy aside and lay hands on Elizabeth +again.</p> +<p>Jimmy did not strike him then. He merely placed the palm of one +hand against the man’s breast and pushed him backward, but +with such force that, striking a chair, Steve Murray fell backward +and sprawled upon the floor. Scrambling to his feet, he rushed +Jimmy like a mad bull.</p> +<p>In his younger days Murray had been a boiler-maker, and he still +retained most of his great strength. He was a veritable mountain of +a man, and now in the throes of a berserker rage he was a +formidable opponent. His face was white and his lips were drawn +back tightly, exposing his teeth in a bestial snarl as he charged +at Jimmy. His great arms and huge hands beat to the right and left +like enormous flails, one blow from which might seemingly have +felled an ox.</p> +<p>Torrance had stood for a moment with an arm still around the +girl; but as Murray rose to his feet he pushed her gently behind +him, and then as the man was upon him Jimmy ducked easily under the +other’s clumsy left and swung a heavy right hook to his jaw. +As Murray staggered to the impact of the blow Jimmy reached him +again quickly and easily with a left to the nose, from which a +crimson burst spattered over the waiter and his victim. Murray went +backward and would have fallen but for the fact he came in contact +with one of his friends, and then he was at Jimmy again.</p> +<p>By this time waiters and patrons were crowding forward from all +parts of the room, and Feinheimer, shrieking at the top of his +voice, was endeavoring to worm his fat, toadlike body through the +cordon of excited spectators. The proprietor reached the scene of +carnage just in time to see Jimmy plant a lovely left on the point +of Murray’s jaw.</p> +<p>The big man tottered drunkenly for an instant, his knees sagged, +and, as Jimmy stood in readiness for any eventuality, the other +crashed heavily to the floor.</p> +<p>Towering above the others in the room suddenly came a big young +fellow shouldering his way through the crowd, a young man in the +uniform of a chauffeur. Elizabeth saw him before he discovered +her.</p> +<p>“Oh David!” she cried. “Quick! Quick! Take us +out of here!”</p> +<p>As the chauffeur reached her side and took in the scene he +jerked his head toward Jimmy. “Did any one hurt you +miss?”</p> +<p>“No, no!” she cried. “This man was very kind. +Just get us out of here, David, as quickly as you can.” And, +turning to Jimmy: “How can I ever repay you? If it +hadn’t been for you—oh, I hate to think what would have +happened. Come out to the car and give David your name and address, +and I will send you something tomorrow.”</p> +<p>“Oh, that’s all right,” said Jimmy. “You +just get out of here as quick as you can. If the police happened to +look in now you might be held as a witness.”</p> +<p>“How utterly horrible!” exclaimed Elizabeth. +“Come, David! Come, Harriet!” David making a way for +her, she started for the door.</p> +<p>Harriet paused long enough to extend her hand to Jimmy. +“It was wonderfully brave of you,” she said. “We +could never do enough to repay you. My name is Harriet +Holden,” and she gave him an address on Lake Shore Drive. +“If you will come Monday morning about ten +o’clock,” she said, “I am sure that there is +something we can do for you. If you want a better position,” +she half suggested, “I know my father could help, although he +must never know about this to-night.”</p> +<p>“Thanks,” said Jimmy, smiling. “It’s +awfully good of you, but you must hurry now. There goes your +friend.”</p> +<p>Feinheimer stood as one dazed, looking down at the bulk of his +friend and associate.</p> +<p>“Mein Gott!” he cried. “What kind of a place +you think I run, young man?” He turned angrily on Jimmy. +“What you think I hire you for? To beat up my best +customer?”</p> +<p>“He got what was coming to him,” said a soft +feminine voice at Jimmy’s elbow. The man looked to see Little +Eva standing at his side. “I didn’t think anybody could +do that to Murray,” she continued. “Lord, but it was +pretty. He’s had it coming to him ever since I’ve known +him, but the big stiff had everybody around this joint buffaloed. +He got away with anything he started.”</p> +<p>Feinheimer looked at Little Eva disgustedly.</p> +<p>“He’s my best customer,” he cried, “and +a bum waiter comes along and beats him up just when he is trying to +have a little innocent sport on Christmas Eve. You take off your +apron, young man, and get your time. I won’t have no rough +stuff in Feinheimer’s.”</p> +<p>Jimmy shrugged his shoulders and grinned.</p> +<p>“Shouldn’t I wait to see if I can’t do +something more for Mr. Murray?” he suggested.</p> +<p>“You get out of here!” cried Feinheimer, “Get +out of here or I’ll call the police.”</p> +<p>Jimmy laughed and took off his apron as he walked back to the +servants’ coat-room. As he emerged again and crossed through +the dining-room he saw that Murray had regained consciousness and +was sitting at a table wiping the blood from his face with a wet +napkin. As Murray’s eyes fell upon his late antagonist he +half rose from his chair and shook his fist at Jimmy.</p> +<p>“I’ll get you for this, young feller!” he +yelled. “I’ll get you yet, and don’t you forget +it.”</p> +<p>“You just had me,” Jimmy called back; “but it +didn’t seem to make you very happy.”</p> +<p>He could still hear Murray fuming and cursing as he passed out +into the barroom, at the front of which was Feinheimer’s +office.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XII" name="Ch_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h3> +<h2>UP OR DOWN?</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>After Jimmy had received his check and was about to leave, a +couple of men approached him.</p> +<p>“We seen that little mix-up in there,” said one of +them. “You handle your mitts like you been there +before.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Jimmy, smiling, “I’ve had a +little experience in the manly art of self-defense.”</p> +<p>The two men were sizing him up.</p> +<p>“Feinheimer can you?” asked one of them. Jimmy +nodded affirmatively. “Got anything else in view?”</p> +<p>“No,” said Jimmy.</p> +<p>“How’d you like a job as one of Brophy’s +sparring partners?”</p> +<p>“I wouldn’t mind,” said Jimmy. “What is +there in it?”</p> +<p>They named a figure that was entirely satisfactory to Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Come over the day after Christmas,” he was told, +“and we’ll give you a trial.”</p> +<p>“I wonder,” thought Jimmy as he started for home, +“if I have gone up a notch in the social scale or down a +notch? From the view-point of the underworld a pug occupies a more +exalted position than a waiter; but— oh, well, a job’s +a job, and at least I won’t have to look at that greasy +Feinheimer all day.”</p> +<p>At ten o’clock Monday Jimmy was at Young Brophy’s +training quarters, for, although he had not forgotten Harriet +Holden’s invitation, he had never seriously considered +availing himself of her offer to help him to a better position. +While he had not found it difficult to accept the rough friendship +and assistance of the Lizard, the idea of becoming an object of +“charity,” as he considered it, at the hands of a girl +in the same walk of life as that to which he belonged was +intolerable.</p> +<p>Young Brophy’s manager, whom Jimmy discovered to be one of +the men who had accosted him in Feinheimer’s after his +trouble with Murray, took him into a private office and talked with +him confidentially for a half-hour before he was definitely +employed.</p> +<p>It seemed that one of the principal requisites of the position +was a willingness to take punishment without attempting to inflict +too much upon Young Brophy. The manager did not go into specific +details as to the reason for this restriction, and Jimmy, badly in +need of a job, felt no particular inclination to search too deeply +for the root of the matter.</p> +<p>“What I don’t know,” he soliloquized, +“won’t hurt me any.” But he had not been there +many days before the piecing together of chance remarks and the +gossip of the hangers-on and other sparring partners made it very +apparent why Brophy should not be badly man-handled. As it finally +revealed itself to Jimmy it was very simple indeed. Brophy was to +be pitted against a man whom he had already out-pointed in a former +bout. He was the ruling favorite in the betting, and it was the +intention to keep him so while he and his backers quietly placed +all their money on the other man.</p> +<p>One of the sparring partners who seemed to harbor a petty grudge +against Brophy finally explained the whole plan to Jimmy. +Everything was to be done to carry the impression to the public +through the newspapers, who were usually well represented at the +training quarters, that Brophy was in the pink of condition; that +he was training hard; that it was impossible to find men who could +stand up to him on account of the terrific punishment he inflicted +upon his sparring partners; and that the result of the fight was +already a foregone conclusion; and then in the third round Young +Brophy was to lie down and by reclining peacefully on his stomach +for ten seconds make more money than several years of hard and +conscientious work earnestly performed could ever net him.</p> +<p>It was all very, very simple; but how easily public opinion +might be changed should one of the sparring partners really make a +good stand against Brophy in the presence of members of the +newspaper fraternity!</p> +<p>“I see,” said Jimmy, running his fingers through his +hair. “Oh, well, it’s none of my business, and if the +suckers want to bet their money on a prize-fight they’re +about due to lose it anyway.”</p> +<p>And so he continued permitting himself to be battered up four or +five times a week at the hands of the pussy Mr. Brophy. He paid +back the twenty the Lizard had loaned him, got his watch out of +pawn, and was even figuring on a new suit of clothes. Never before +in his life had Jimmy realized what it meant to be prosperous, +since for obvious reasons Young Brophy’s manager was +extremely liberal in the matter of salaries with all those +connected with the training-camp.</p> +<p>At first it had been rather humiliating to Jimmy to take the +drubbings he did at the hands of Young Brophy in the presence of +the audience which usually filled the small gymnasium where the +fighter was training. It was nearly always about the same crowd, +however, made up of dyed-in-the-wool fans, a few newspaper men, and +a sprinkling of thrill-seekers from other walks of life far removed +from the prize-ring. Jimmy often noticed women among the +spectators—well-dressed women, with every appearance of +refinement, and there were always men of the same upper class of +society.</p> +<p>He mentioned the fact once to the same young man who had +previously explained the plan under which the fight was to be +faked.</p> +<p>“That’s just part of the graft,” said his +informant. “These birds have got next to a bunch of would-be +sports with more money than brains through the athletic director +of—” he mentioned the name of one of the big athletic +clubs—“and they been inviting ‘em here to watch +Brophy training. Every one of the simps will be tryin’ to get +money down on Brophy, and this bunch will take it all up as fast as +they come.</p> +<p>“The bettin’ hasn’t really started yet; in +fact, they are holding off themselves until the odds are better. If +Brophy goes into the ring a three-to-one favorite these fellows +will make a killing that will be talked of for the next twenty +years.”</p> +<p>“And incidentally give boxing another black +eye,” interjected Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Oh, what the hell do we care?” said the other. +“I’m goin’ to make mine out of it, and you better +do the same. I’m goin’ to put up every cent I can +borrow or steal on the other guy.”</p> +<p>It was Saturday, the 15th of January, just a week before the +fight, that Jimmy, trained now almost to perfection, stepped into +the ring to take his usual mauling. For some time past there had +been insidiously working its way into his mind a vast contempt for +the pugilistic prowess of Young Brophy.</p> +<p>“If,” thought Jimmy, “this bird is of +championship caliber, I might be a champion myself.” For, +though Young Brophy was not a champion, the newspapers had been +pointing to him for some time as a likely possibility for these +pugilistic honors later.</p> +<p>As this mental attitude grew within him and took hold of Jimmy +it more and more irked him to take the punishment which he inwardly +felt he could easily inflict upon Brophy instead, but, as Jimmy had +learned through lean and hungry months, a job is a job, and no job +is to be sneezed at or lightly thrown aside.</p> +<p>There was quite a gathering that afternoon to watch Young +Brophy’s work-out, and rather a larger representation than +usual from society’s younger set. The program, which had +consisted in part of shadow boxing and bag punching by Young +Brophy, was to terminate with three rounds with Jimmy.</p> +<p>For two rounds the young man had permitted Brophy to make a +monkey of him, hitting him where he would at will, while Jimmy, as +a result of several weeks of diligent practice, was able to put up +apparently a very ferocious attempt to annihilate his opponent +without doing the latter any material damage.</p> +<p>At the close of the second round Brophy landed a particularly +vicious right, which dropped Jimmy to the canvas. The crowd +applauded vociferously, and as the gong sounded as Jimmy was slowly +rising to his feet they were all assured that it was all that had +saved the young man from an even worse thrashing.</p> +<p>As Jimmy returned to his corner there arose within him a +determination to thrash Young Brophy within an inch of his life +after the big fight was out of the way and Jimmy no longer bound by +any obligations, for he realized that for some reason Brophy had +just gone a little too far with his rough tactics, there having +been in the arrangement with the sparring partners an understanding +that when a knock-down was to be staged Brophy was to give his +opponent the cue. No cue had been given, however. Jimmy had not +been expecting it, and he had been floored with a punch behind +which were all the weight and brawn of the pugilist.</p> +<p>He had long since ceased to consider what the spectators might +think. So far as Jimmy was concerned, they might have been so many +chairs. He was merely angry at the unnecessary punishment that had +been inflicted. As he sprawled in his corner he let his eyes run +over the faces of the spectators directly in front of him, to whom +previously he had paid no particular attention, and even now it was +scarcely more than an involuntary glance; but his eyes stopped +suddenly upon a face, and as recognition suddenly dawned upon him +he could feel the hot blood rushing to his own. For there was the +girl whom Fate had thrice before thrown in his path! Beside her he +recognized the Miss Harriet Holden who had been with her the night +at Feinheimer’s, and with them were two young men.</p> +<p>Something within Jimmy Torrance rebelled to a point where it +utterly dominated him—rebelled at the thought that this girl, +whom he had unconsciously set upon a pedestal to worship from afar, +should always find him in some menial and humiliating position. It +was bad enough that she should see him as a sparring partner of a +professional pug, but it made it infinitely worse that she should +see him as what he must appear, an unsuccessful third or fourth +rate fighter.</p> +<p>Everything within Jimmy’s mind turned suddenly topsyturvy. +He seemed to lose all sense of proportion and all sense of value in +one overpowering thought, that he must not again be humiliated in +her presence.</p> +<p>And so it was that at the tap of the gong for the third round it +was not Torrance the sparring partner that advanced from his +corner, but Jimmy Torrance, champion heavyweight boxer of a certain +famous university. But why enter into the harrowing details of the +ensuing minute and a half?</p> +<p>In thirty seconds it was unquestionably apparent to every one in +the room, including Young Brophy himself, that the latter was +pitifully outclassed. Jimmy hit him whenever and wherever he +elected to hit, and he hit him hard, while Brophy, at best only a +second or third rate fighter, pussy and undertrained, was not only +unable to elude the blows of his adversary but equally so to land +effectively himself.</p> +<p>And there before the eyes of half a dozen newspaper reporters, +of a dozen wealthy young men who had fully intended to place large +sums on Brophy, and before the eyes of his horrified manager and +backer, Jimmy, at the end of ninety seconds, landed a punch that +sent the flabby Mr. Brophy through the ropes and into dreamland for +a much longer period than the requisite ten seconds.</p> +<p>Before Jimmy got dressed and out of the gymnasium he, with +difficulty, escaped a half-dozen more fistic encounters, as +everybody from the manager down felt that his crime deserved +nothing short of capital punishment. He had absolutely wrecked a +perfectly good scheme in the perfection of which several thousand +dollars had been spent, and now there could not be even the +possibility of a chance of their breaking even.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XIII" name="Ch_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h3> +<h2>HARRIET PHILOSOPHIZES.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>When Jimmy got home that night he saw a light in the +Lizard’s room and entered.</p> +<p>“Well,” said the cracksman, “how’s every +little thing?”</p> +<p>Jimmy smiled ruefully.</p> +<p>“Canned again,” he announced, and then he told the +Lizard the story of his downfall, attributing the results of the +third round, however, to Brophy’s unwarranted action at the +end of the second.</p> +<p>“Well,” said the Lizard, “you certainly are +the champion boob. There you had a chance to cop off a nice bunch +of coin on that fight and instead you kill it for yourself and +everybody else.”</p> +<p>“You don’t think,” said Jimmy, “that I +would have put any money on that crooked scrap.”</p> +<p>“Why not?” asked the Lizard, and then he shook his +head sadly. “No, I don’t suppose you would. +There’s lots of things about you that I can’t +understand, and one of them is the fact that you would rather +starve to death than take a little easy money off of birds that +have got more than they got any business to have. Why, with your +education and front we two could pull off some of the classiest +stuff that this burg ever saw.”</p> +<p>“Forget it,” admonished Jimmy.</p> +<p>“What are you going to do now?” asked the +Lizard.</p> +<p>“Go out and hunt for another job,” said Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Well, I wish you luck,” said the Lizard.</p> +<p>“Maybe I can find something for you. I’ll try, and +in the mean time if you need any mazuma I always got a little roll +tucked away in my sock.”</p> +<p>“Thanks,” said Jimmy, “and I don’t mind +telling you that you’re the one man I know whom I’d +just as soon borrow from and would like the opportunity of loaning +to. You say that you can’t understand me, and yet +you’re a whole lot more of an enigma yourself! You admit, in +fact, you’re inclined to boast, that you’re a +pickpocket and a safe-blower and yet I’d trust you, Lizard, +with anything that I had.”</p> +<p>The Lizard smiled, and for the first time since he had known him +Jimmy noticed that his eyes smiled with his lips.</p> +<p>“I’ve always had the reputation,” said the +Lizard, “of being a white guy with my friends. As a matter of +fact, I ain’t no different from what you’d probably be +if you were in business and what most of your friends are. Morally +they’re a bunch of thieves and crooks. Of course, they +don’t go out and frisk any one and they don’t work with +a jimmy or a bottle of soup. They work their graft with the help of +contracts and lawyers, and they’d gyp a friend or a pauper +almost as soon as they would an enemy. I don’t know much +about morality, but when it comes right down to a question of +morals I believe my trade is just as decent as that of a lot of +these birds you see rolling up and down Mich Boul in their +limousines.”</p> +<p>“It’s all in the point of view,” said +Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Yes,” said the Lizard. “It’s all in the +point of view, and my point of view ain’t warped by no +college education.”</p> +<p>Jimmy grinned. “Eventually, Lizard, you may win me over; +but when you do why fritter away our abilities upon this simple +village when we have the capitals of all Europe to play around +in?”</p> +<p>“There’s something in that,” said the Lizard; +“but don’t get it into your head for a minute that I am +tryin’ to drag you from the straight and narrow. I think I +like you better the way you are.”</p> +<p>“Did you ever,” said Harriet Holden, “see +anything so weird as the way we keep bumping into that +stocking-counter young man?”</p> +<p>“No,” said Elizabeth, “it’s commencing +to get on my nerves. Every time I turn a corner now I expect to +bump into him. I suppose we see other people many times without +recognizing them, but he is so utterly good-looking that he sort of +sticks in one’s memory.”</p> +<p>“Do you know,” said Harriet, “that I have a +suspicion that he recognized us. I saw him looking up at us just +after that other person knocked him down and I could have sworn +that he blushed. And then, you know, he went in and was entirely +different from what he had been in the two preceding rounds. Billy +said that he is really a wonderful fighter, and there are not very +many good fights that Billy misses. What in the world do you +suppose his profession is anyway? Since we first noticed him he has +been a hosiery clerk, a waiter, and a prize-fighter.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know, I am sure,” said Elizabeth, +yawning. “You seem to be terribly interested in +him.”</p> +<p>“I am,” admitted Harriet frankly. “He’s +a regular adventure all in himself—a whole series of +adventures.”</p> +<p>“I’ve never been partial to serials,” said +Elizabeth.</p> +<p>“Well, I should think one would be a relief after a whole +winter of heavy tragedy,” retorted Harriet.</p> +<p>“What do you mean?” asked Elizabeth.</p> +<p>“Oh, I mean Harold, of course,” said Harriet. +“He’s gone around all winter with a grouch and a face a +mile long. What’s the matter with him anyway?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” sighed Elizabeth. +“I’m afraid he’s working too hard.”</p> +<p>Harriet giggled.</p> +<p>“Oh, fiddlesticks!” she exclaimed. “You know +perfectly well that Harold Bince will never work himself to +death.”</p> +<p>“Well, he is working hard, Harriet. Father says so. And +he’s worrying about the business, too. He’s trying so +hard to make good.”</p> +<p>“I will admit that he has stuck to his job more faithfully +than anybody expected him to.”</p> +<p>Elizabeth turned slowly upon her friend, “You don’t +like Harold,” she said; “why is it?”</p> +<p>Harriet shook her head.</p> +<p>“I do like him, Elizabeth, for your sake. I suppose the +trouble is that I realize that he is not good enough for you. I +have known him all my life, and even as a little child he was never +sincere. Possibly he has changed now. I hope so. And then again I +know as well as you do that you are not in love with +him.”</p> +<p>“How perfectly ridiculous!” cried Elizabeth. +“Do you suppose that I would marry a man whom I didn’t +love?”</p> +<p>“You haven’t the remotest idea what love is. +You’ve never been in love.”</p> +<p>“Have you?” asked Elizabeth.</p> +<p>“No,” replied Harriet, “I haven’t, but I +know the symptoms and you certainly haven’t got one of them. +Whenever Harold isn’t going to be up for dinner or for the +evening you’re always relieved. Possibly you don’t +realize it yourself, but you show it to any one who knows +you.”</p> +<p>“Well, I do love him,” insisted Elizabeth, +“and I intend to marry him. I never had any patience with +this silly, love-sick business that requires people to pine away +when they are not together and bore everybody else to death when +they were.”</p> +<p>“All of which proves,” said Harriet, “that you +haven’t been stung yet, and I sincerely hope that you may +never be unless it happens before you marry Harold.”</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XIV" name="Ch_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h3> +<h2>IN AGAIN—OUT AGAIN.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Jimmy Torrance was out of a job a week this time, and once more +he was indebted to the Lizard for a position, the latter knowing a +politician who was heavily interested in a dairy company, with the +result that Jimmy presently found himself driving a milk-wagon. +Jimmy’s route was on the north side, which he regretted, as +it was in the district where a number of the friends of his former +life resided. His delivery schedule, however, and the fact that his +point of contact with the homes of his customers was at the back +door relieved him of any considerable apprehension of being +discovered by an acquaintance.</p> +<p>His letters home were infrequent, for he found that his powers +of invention were being rapidly depleted. It was difficult to write +glowing accounts of the business success he was upon the point of +achieving on the strength of any of the positions he so far had +held, and doubly so during the far greater period that he had been +jobless and hungry. But he had not been able to bring himself to +the point of admitting to his family his long weeks of consistent +and unrelieved failure.</p> +<p>Recently he had abandoned his futile attempts to obtain +positions through the medium of the Help Wanted columns.</p> +<p>“It is no use,” he thought. “There must be +something inherently wrong with me that in a city full of jobs I am +unable to land anything without some sort of a pull and then only +work that any unskilled laborer could perform.”</p> +<p>The truth of the matter was that Jimmy Torrance was slowly +approaching that mental condition that is aptly described by the +phrase, “losing your grip,” one of the symptoms of +which was the fact that he was almost contented with his present +job.</p> +<p>He had driven for about a week when, upon coming into the barn +after completing his morning delivery, he was instructed to take a +special order to a certain address on Lake Shore Drive. Although +the address was not that of one of his regular customers he felt +that there was something vaguely familiar about it, but when he +finally arrived he realized that it was a residence at which he had +never before called.</p> +<p>Driving up the alley Jimmy stopped in the rear of a large and +pretentious home, and entering through a gateway in a high stone +wall he saw that the walk to the rear entrance bordered a very +delightful garden. He realized what a wonderfully pretty little +spot it must be in the summer time, with its pool and fountain and +tree-shaded benches, its vine-covered walls and artistically +arranged shrubs, and it recalled to Jimmy with an accompanying sigh +the homes in which he had visited in what seemed now a remote past, +and also of his own home in the West.</p> +<p>On the alley in one corner of the property stood a garage and +stable, in which Jimmy could see men working upon the owner’s +cars and about the box-stalls of his saddle horses. At the sight of +the horses Jimmy heaved another sigh as he continued his way to the +rear entrance. As he stood waiting for a reply to his summons he +glanced back at the stable to see that horses had just entered and +that their riders were dismounting, evidently two of the women of +the household, and then a houseman opened the door and Jimmy made +his delivery and started to retrace his steps to his wagon.</p> +<p>Approaching him along the walk from the stable were the +riders—two young women, laughing and talking as they +approached the house, and suddenly Jimmy, in his neat white suit, +carrying his little tray of milk-bottles, recognized them, and +instantly there flashed into recollection the address that Harriet +Holden had given him that night at Feinheimer’s.</p> +<p>“What infernal luck,” he groaned inwardly; “I +suppose the next time I see that girl I’ll be collecting +garbage from her back door.” And then, with his eyes straight +to the front, he stepped aside to let the two pass.</p> +<p>It was Harriet Holden who recognized him first, and stopped with +a little exclamation of surprise. Jimmy stopped, too. There was +nothing else that a gentleman might do, although he would have +given his right hand to have been out of the yard.</p> +<p>“You never came to the house as I asked you to,” +said Miss Holden reproachfully. “We wanted so much to do +something to repay you for your protection that night.”</p> +<p>“There was no use in my coming,” said Jimmy, +“for, you see, I couldn’t have accepted anything for +what I did—I couldn’t very well have done anything +else, could I, under the circumstances?”</p> +<p>“There were many other men in the place,” replied +Harriet, “but you were the only one who came to our +help.”</p> +<p>“But the others were not—-” Jimmy been upon +the point of saying gentlemen, but then he happened to think that +in the eyes of these two girls, and according to their standard, he +might not be a gentleman, either. “Well, you see,” he +continued lamely, “they probably didn’t know who you +were.”</p> +<p>“Did you?” asked Elizabeth.</p> +<p>“No,” Jimmy admitted, “of course, I +didn’t know who you were, but I knew what you were not, which +was the thing that counted most then.”</p> +<p>“I wish,” said Harriet, “that you would let us +do something for you.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Elizabeth, “if a hundred dollars +would be of any use to you—“ Harriet laid a hand quickly +on her friend’s arm.</p> +<p>“I wasn’t thinking of money,” she said to +Jimmy. “One can’t pay for things like that with money, +but we know so many people here we might help you in some way, if +you are not entirely satisfied with your present +position.”</p> +<p>Out of the corner of his eye Jimmy could not help but note that +Elizabeth was appraising him critically from head to foot and he +felt that he could almost read what was passing through her mind as +she took stock of his cheap cotton uniform and his cap, with the +badge of his employer above the vizor. Involuntarily Jimmy +straightened his shoulders and raised his chin a trifle.</p> +<p>“No, thank you,” he said to Harriet, “it is +kind of you, but really I am perfectly satisfied with my present +job. It is by far the best one I have ever held,” and +touching his cap, he continued his interrupted way to his +wagon.</p> +<p>“What a strange young man,” exclaimed Harriet. +“He is like many of his class,” replied Elizabeth, +“probably entirely without ambition and with no desire to +work any too hard or to assume additional +responsibilities.”</p> +<p>“I don’t believe it,” retorted Harriet. +“Unless I am greatly mistaken, that man is a gentleman. +Everything about him indicates it; his inflection even is that of a +well-bred man.”</p> +<p>“How utterly silly,” exclaimed Elizabeth. +“You’ve heard him speak scarcely a dozen words. I +venture to say that in a fifteen-minute conversation he would +commit more horrible crimes against the king’s English than +even that new stable-boy of yours. Really, Harriet, you seem very +much interested in this person.”</p> +<p>“Why shouldn’t I be?” asked Harriet. +“He’s becoming my little pet mystery. I wonder under +what circumstances we see him next?”</p> +<p>“Probably as a white-wings,” laughed Elizabeth. +“But if so I positively refuse to permit you to stop in the +middle of Michigan Boulevard and converse with a street-sweeper +while I’m with you.”</p> +<p>Jimmy’s new job lasted two weeks, and then the milk-wagon +drivers went on strike and Jimmy was thrown out of employment.</p> +<p>“Tough luck,” sympathized the Lizard. “You +sure are the Calamity Kid. But don’t worry, we’ll land +you something else. And remember that that partnership proposition +is still open.”</p> +<p>There ensued another month of idleness, during which Jimmy again +had recourse to the Help Wanted column. The Lizard tried during the +first week to find something for him, and then occurred a certain +very famous safe-robbery, and the Lizard disappeared.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XV" name="Ch_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h3> +<h2>LITTLE EVA.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Early in March Jimmy was again forced to part with his watch. As +he was coming out of the pawn-shop late in the afternoon he almost +collided with Little Eva.</p> +<p>“For the love of Mike!” cried that young lady, +“where have you been all this time, and what’s happened +to you? You look as though you’d lost your last +friend.” And then noting the shop from which he had emerged +and the deduction being all too obvious, she laid one of her +shapely hands upon the sleeve of his cheap, ill-fitting coat. +“You’re up against it, kid, ain’t you?” she +asked.</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s nothing,” said Jimmy ruefully. +“I’m getting used to it.”</p> +<p>“I guess you’re too square,” said the girl. +“I heard about that Brophy business.” And then she +laughed softly. “Do you know who the biggest backers of that +graft were?”</p> +<p>“No,” said Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Well, don’t laugh yourself to death,” she +admonished. “They were Steve Murray and Feinheimer. Talk +about sore pups! You never saw anything like it, and when they +found who it was that had ditched their wonderful scheme they threw +another fit. Say, those birds have been weeping on each +other’s shoulders ever since.”</p> +<p>“Do you still breakfast at Feinheimer’s?” +asked Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Once in a while,” said the girl, “but not so +often now.” And she dropped her eyes to the ground in what, +in another than Little Eva, might have been construed as +embarrassment. “Where you going now?” she asked +quickly.</p> +<p>“To eat,” said Jimmy, and then prompted by the +instincts of his earlier training and without appreciable pause: +“Won’t you take dinner with me?” +“No,” said the girl, “but you are going to take +dinner with me. You’re out of a job and broke, and the +chances are you’ve just this minute hocked your watch, while +I have plenty of money. No,” she said as Jimmy started to +protest, “this is going to be on me. I never knew how much I +enjoyed talking with you at breakfast until after you had left +Feinheimer’s. I’ve been real lonesome ever +since,” she admitted frankly. “You talk to me different +from what the other men do.” She pressed his arm gently. +“You talk to me, kid, just like a fellow might talk to his +sister.”</p> +<p>Jimmy didn’t know just what rejoinder to make, and so he +made none. As a matter of fact, he had not realized that he had +said or done anything to win her confidence, nor could he explain +his attitude toward her in the light of what he knew of her life +and vocation. There is a type of man that respects and reveres +woman-hood for those inherent virtues which are supposed to be the +natural attributes of the sex because in their childhood they have +seen them exemplified in their mothers, their sisters and in the +majority of women and girls who were parts of the natural +environment of their early lives.</p> +<p>It is difficult ever entirely to shatter the faith of such men, +and however they may be wronged by individuals of the opposite sex +their subjective attitude toward woman in the abstract is one of +chivalrous respect. As far as outward appearances were concerned +Little Eva might have passed readily as a paragon of all the +virtues. As yet, there was no sign nor line of dissipation marked +upon her piquant face, nor in her consociation with Jimmy was there +ever the slightest reference to or reminder of her vocation.</p> +<p>They chose a quiet and eminently respectable dining place, and +after they had ordered, Jimmy spread upon the table an evening +paper he had purchased upon the street.</p> +<p>“Help me find a job,” he said to the girl, and +together the two ran through the want columns.</p> +<p>“Here’s a bunch of them,” cried the girl +laughingly, “all in one ad. Night cook, one hundred and fifty +dollars; swing man, one hundred and forty dollars; roast cook, one +hundred and twenty dollars; broiler, one hundred and twenty +dollars. I’d better apply for that. Fry cook, one hundred and +ten dollars. Oh, here’s something for Steve Murray: chicken +butcher, eighty dollars; here’s a job I’d like,” +she cried, “ice-cream man, one hundred dollars.”</p> +<p>“Quit your kidding,” said Jimmy. “I’m +looking for a job, not an acrostic.”</p> +<p>“Well,” she said, “here are two solid pages of +them, but nobody seems to want a waiter. What else can you +do?” she asked smiling up at him.</p> +<p>“I can drive a milk-wagon,” said Jimmy, “but +the drivers are all on strike.”</p> +<p>“Now, be serious,” she announced. “Let’s +look for something really good. Here’s somebody wants a +finishing superintendent for a string music instrument factory, and +a business manager and electrical engineer in this one. +What’s an efficiency expert?”</p> +<p>“Oh, he’s a fellow who gums up the works, puts you +three weeks behind in less than a week and has all your best men +resigning inside of a month. I know, because my dad had one at his +plant a few years ago.”</p> +<p>The girl looked at him for a moment. “Your father is a +business man?” she asked, and without waiting for an answer, +“Why don’t you work for him?”</p> +<p>It was the first reference that Jimmy had ever made to his +connections or his past.</p> +<p>“Oh,” he said, “he’s a long way off +and—if I’m no good to any one here I certainly +wouldn’t be any good to him.”</p> +<p>His companion made no comment, but resumed her reading of the +advertisement before her:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>WANTED, an Efficiency Expert—Machine works wants man +capable of thoroughly reorganizing large business along modern +lines, stopping leaks and systematizing every activity. Call +International Machine Company, West Superior Street. Ask for Mr. +Compton.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>“What do you have to know to be an efficiency +expert?” asked the girl.</p> +<p>“From what I saw of the bird I just mentioned the less one +knows about anything the more successful he should be as an +efficiency expert, for he certainly didn’t know anything. And +yet the results from kicking everybody in the plant out of his own +particular rut eventually worked wonders for the organization. If +the man had had any sense, tact or diplomacy nothing would have +been accomplished.”</p> +<p>“Why don’t you try it?” asked the girl.</p> +<p>Jimmy looked at her with a quizzical smile. “Thank +you,” he said.</p> +<p>“Oh, I didn’t mean it that way,” she cried. +“But from what you tell me I imagine that all a man needs is +a front and plenty of punch. You’ve got the front all right +with your looks and gift of gab, and I leave it to Young Brophy if +you haven’t got the punch.”</p> +<p>“Maybe that’s not the punch an efficiency expert +needs,” suggested Jimmy.</p> +<p>“It might be a good thing to have up his sleeve,” +replied the girl, and then suddenly, “do you believe in +hunches?”</p> +<p>“Sometimes,” replied Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Well, this is a hunch, take it from me,” she +continued. “I’ll bet you can land that job and make +good.”</p> +<p>“What makes you think so?” asked Jimmy.</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” she replied, “but you +know what a woman’s intuition is.”</p> +<p>“I suppose,” said Jimmy, “that it’s the +feminine of hunch. But however good your hunch or intuition may be +it would certainly get a terrible jolt if I presented myself to the +head of the International Machine Company in this scenery. Do you +see anything about my clothes that indicates efficiency?”</p> +<p>“It isn’t your clothes that count, Jimmy,” she +said, “it’s the combination of that face of yours and +what you’ve got in your head. You’re the most efficient +looking person I ever saw, and if you want a reference I’ll +say this much for you, you’re the most efficient waiter that +Feinheimer ever had. He said so himself, even after he canned +you.”</p> +<p>“Your enthusiasm,” said Jimmy, “is contagious. +If it wasn’t for these sorry rags of mine I’d take a +chance on that hunch of yours.”</p> +<p>The girl laid her hand impulsively upon his.</p> +<p>“Won’t you let me help you?” she asked. +“I’d like to, and it will only be a loan if you wanted +to look at it that way. Enough to get you a decent-looking outfit, +such an outfit as you ought to have to land a good job. I know, and +everybody else knows, that clothes do count no matter what we say +to the contrary. I’ll bet you’re some looker when +you’re dolled up! Please,” she continued, “just +try it for a gamble?”</p> +<p>“I don’t see how I can,” he objected. +“The chances are I could never pay you back, and there is no +reason in the world why you should loan me money. You are certainly +under no obligation to me.”</p> +<p>“I wish you would let me, Jimmy,” she said. +“It would make me awfully happy!”</p> +<p>The man hesitated.</p> +<p>“Oh,” she said, “I’m going to do it, +anyway. Wait a minute,” and, rising, she left the table.</p> +<p>In a few minutes she returned. “Here,” she said, +“you’ve got to take it,” and extended her hand +toward him beneath the edge of the table. “I +can’t,” said Jimmy. “It wouldn’t be +right.”</p> +<p>The girl looked at him and flushed.</p> +<p>“Do you mean,” she said, “because it’s +my—because of what I am?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no,” said Jimmy; “please don’t +think that!” And impulsively he took her hand beneath the +table. At the contact the girl caught her breath with a little +quick-drawn sigh.</p> +<p>“Here, take it!” she said, and drawing her hand away +quickly, left a roll of bills in Jimmy’s hand.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XVI" name="Ch_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h3> +<h2>JIMMY THROWS A BLUFF.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>That afternoon Mr. Harold Bince had entered his superior’s +office with an afternoon paper in his hand.</p> +<p>“What’s the idea of this ad, Mr. Compton?” he +asked. “Why do we need an efficiency expert? I wish you had +let me know what you intended doing.”</p> +<p>“I knew that if I told you, Harold, you would +object,” said the older man, “and I thought I would +have a talk with several applicants before saying anything about it +to any one. Of course, whoever we get will work with you, but I +would rather not have it generally known about the plant. There +seems to be a leak somewhere and evidently we are too close to the +work to see it ourselves. It will require an outsider to discover +it.”</p> +<p>“I am very much opposed to the idea,” said Bince. +“These fellows usually do nothing more than disrupt an +organization. We have a force that has been here, many of them, for +years. There is as little lost motion in this plant as in any in +the country, and if we start in saddling these men with a lot of +red tape which will necessitate their filling out innumerable forms +for every job, about half their time will be spent in bookkeeping, +which can just as well be done here in the office as it is now. I +hope that you will reconsider your intention and let us work out +our own solution in a practical manner, which we can do better in +the light of our own experience than can an outsider who knows +nothing of our peculiar problems.”</p> +<p>“We will not permit the organization to be +disrupted,” replied Mr. Compton. “It may do a lot of +good to get a new angle on our problems and at least it will do no +harm.”</p> +<p>“I can’t agree with you,” replied Bince. +“I think it will do a lot of harm.”</p> +<p>Compton looked at his watch. “It is getting late, +Harold,” he said, “and this is pay-day. I should think +Everett could help you with the pay-roll.” Everett was the +cashier.</p> +<p>“I prefer to do it myself,” replied Bince. +“Everett has about all he can do, and anyway, I don’t +like to trust it to any one else.” And realizing that Compton +did not care to discuss the matter of the efficiency expert further +Bince returned to his own office.</p> +<p>The following afternoon the office boy entered Mr. +Compton’s office. “A gentleman to see you, sir,” +he announced. “He said to tell you that he came in reply to +your advertisement.”</p> +<p>“Show him in,” instructed Compton, and a moment +later Jimmy entered—a rehabilitated Jimmy. Upon his excellent +figure the ready-made suit had all the appearance of faultlessly +tailored garments. Compton looked up at his visitor, and with the +glance he swiftly appraised Jimmy—a glance that assured him +that here might be just the man he wanted, for intelligence, +aggressiveness and efficiency were evidently the outstanding +characteristics of the young man before him. After Jimmy had +presented himself the other motioned him to a chair.</p> +<p>“I am looking,” said Mr. Compton, “for an +experienced man who can come in here and find out just what is +wrong with us. We have an old-established business which has been +making money for years. We are taking all the work that we can +possibly handle at the highest prices we have ever received, and +yet our profits are not at all commensurate with the volume of +business. It has occurred to me that an experienced man from the +outside would be able to more quickly put his finger on the leaks +and stop them. Now tell me just what your experience has been and +we will see if we can come to some understanding.”</p> +<p>From his pocket Jimmy drew a half-dozen envelopes, and taking +the contents from them one by one laid them on the desk before Mr. +Compton. On the letter-heads of half a dozen large out-of-town +manufacturers in various lines were brief but eulogistic comments +upon the work done in their plants by Mr. James Torrance, Jr. As he +was reading them Mr. Compton glanced up by chance to see that the +face of the applicant was slightly flushed, which he thought +undoubtedly due to the fact that the other knew he was reading the +words of praise contained in the letters, whereas the truth of the +matter was that Jimmy’s color was heightened by a feeling of +guilt.</p> +<p>“These are very good,” said Mr. Compton, looking up +from the letters. “I don’t know that I need go any +further. A great deal depends on a man’s personality in a +position of this sort, and from your appearance I should imagine +that you’re all right along that line and you seem to have +had the right kind of experience. Now, what arrangement can we +make?”</p> +<p>Jimmy had given the matter of pay considerable thought, but the +trouble was that he did not know what an efficiency expert might be +expected to demand. He recalled vaguely that the one his father had +employed got something like ten dollars a day, or one hundred a +day, Jimmy couldn’t remember which, and so he was afraid that +he might ask too much and lose the opportunity, or too little and +reveal that he had no knowledge of the value of such services.</p> +<p>“I would rather leave that to you,” he said. +“What do you think the work would be worth to you?”</p> +<p>“Do you expect to continue in this line of work?” +asked Mr. Compton. “When this job is finished you would want +to go somewhere else, I suppose?”</p> +<p>Jimmy saw an opening and leaped for it. “Oh, no!” he +replied. “On the contrary, I wouldn’t mind working into +a permanent position, and if you think there might be a possibility +of that I would consider a reasonable salary arrangement rather +than the usual contract rate for expert service.”</p> +<p>“It is very possible,” said Mr. Compton, “that +if you are the right man there would be a permanent place in the +organization for you. With that idea in mind I should say that two +hundred and fifty dollars a month might be a mutually fair +arrangement to begin with.”</p> +<p>Two hundred and fifty dollars a month! Jimmy tried to look +bored, but not too bored.</p> +<p>“Of course,” he said, “with the idea that it +may become a permanent, well-paying position I think I might be +inclined to consider it—in fact, I am very favorably inclined +toward it,” he added hastily as he thought he noted a sudden +waning of interest in Compton’s expression. “But be +sure yourself that I am the man you want. For instance, my +methods—you should know something of them first.”</p> +<p>In Jimmy’s pocket was a small book he had purchased at a +second-hand bookshop the evening before, upon the cover of which +appeared the title “How to Get More Out of Your +Factory.” He had not had sufficient time to study it +thoroughly, but had succeeded in memorizing several principal +headings on the contents page.</p> +<p>“At first,” he explained, “I won’t seem +to be accomplishing much, as I always lay the foundation of my +future work by studying my men. Some men have that within them +which spurs them on; while some need artificial +initiative—outside encouragement,” he quoted glibly +from “How to Get More Out of Your Factory.” “Some +men extend themselves under stern discipline; some respond only to +a gentle rein. I study men—the men over me, under me, around +me. I study them and learn how to get from each the most that is in +him. At the same time I shall be looking for leaks and +investigating timekeeping methods, wage-paying systems and planning +on efficiency producers. Later I shall start reducing costs by +studying machines, handling material economically and producing +power at lowest cost; keeping the product moving, making +environment count on the balance-sheet and protecting against +accident and fire.” This was as far as Jimmy had memorized, +and so he stopped.</p> +<p>“I think,” said Mr. Compton, “that you have +the right idea. Some of your points are not entirely clear to me, +as there are many modern methods that I have not, I am sorry to +say, investigated sufficiently.”</p> +<p>Jimmy did not think it necessary to explain that they were not +clear to him either.</p> +<p>“And now,” said Compton, “if you are satisfied +with the salary, when can you start?”</p> +<p>Jimmy rose with a brisk and businesslike manner. “I am +free now,” he said, “with the exception of a little +personal business which I can doubtless finish up +tomorrow—suppose I come Thursday?”</p> +<p>“Good,” exclaimed Compton, “but before you go +I want you to meet our assistant general manager, Mr. Bince.” +And he led Jimmy toward Bince’s office.</p> +<p>“This is Mr. Torrance, Harold,” said Mr. Compton as +they entered. “Mr. Bince, Mr. Torrance. Mr. Torrance is going +to help us systematize the plant. He will report directly to me and +I know you will do everything in your power to help him. You can go +to Mr. Bince for anything in the way of information you require, +and Harold, when Mr. Torrance comes Thursday I wish you would +introduce him to Everett and the various department heads and +explain that they are to give him full cooperation. And now, as I +have an appointment, I shall have to ask you to excuse me. I will +see you Thursday. If there are any questions you want to ask, Mr. +Bince will be glad to give you any information you wish or care +for.”</p> +<p>Jimmy had felt from the moment that he was introduced to Bince +that the latter was antagonistic and now that the two were alone +together he was not long left in doubt as to the correctness of his +surmise. As soon as the door had closed behind Mr. Compton Bince +wheeled toward Jimmy.</p> +<p>“I don’t mind telling you, Mr. Torrance,” he +said, “that I consider the services of an expert absolutely +unnecessary, but if Mr. Compton wishes to experiment I will +interfere in no way and I shall help you all I can, but I sincerely +hope that you, on your part, will refrain from interfering with my +activities. As a matter of fact, you won't have to leave this +office to get all the information you need, and if you will come to +me I can make it easy for you to investigate the entire workings of +the plant and save you a great deal of unnecessary personal labor. +I suppose that you have had a great deal of experience along this +line?”</p> +<p>Jimmy nodded affirmatively.</p> +<p>“Just how do you purpose proceeding?”</p> +<p>“Oh, well,” said Jimmy, “each one of us really +has a system of his own. At first I won’t seem to be +accomplishing much, as I always lay the foundation of my future +work by studying my men. Some men have that within them which spurs +them on; while some need artificial initiative—outside +encouragement.” He hoped that the door to Compton’s +office was securely closed.</p> +<p>“Some men extend themselves under stern discipline; some +respond only to a gentle rein. I study men—the men over me, +under me, around me. I study them and learn how to get from each +the most that is in him. At the same time I shall be looking for +leaks and investigating time-keeping methods“—he was +looking straight at Bince and he could not help but note the slight +narrowing of the other’s lids— “wage-paying +systems and planning on efficiency producers.”</p> +<p>Here he hesitated a moment as though weighing his words, though +as a matter of fact he had merely forgotten the title of the next +chapter, but presently he went on again:</p> +<p>“Later I shall start reducing costs by studying machines, +handling material economically and producing power at lowest costs: +keeping the product moving, making environment count on the +balance-sheet and protecting against accident and fire.”</p> +<p>“Is that all?” asked Mr. Bince.</p> +<p>“Oh, no, indeed!” said Jimmy. “That’s +just a very brief outline of the way I shall start.”</p> +<p>“Ah!” said Mr. Bince. “And just how, may I +ask, do you make environment count on the balance-sheet? I do not +quite understand.”</p> +<p>Jimmy was mentally gasping and going down for the third time. He +had wondered when he read that chapter title just what it might +mean.</p> +<p>“Oh,” he said, “you will understand that +thoroughly when we reach that point. It is one of the steps in my +method. Other things lead up to it. It is really rather difficult +to explain until we have a concrete example, something that you can +really visualize, you know. But I assure you that it will be +perfectly plain to you when we arrive at that point.</p> +<p>“And now,” he said, rising, “I must be going. +I have a great deal to attend to this afternoon and to-morrow, as I +wish to get some personal matters out of the way before I start in +here Thursday.”</p> +<p>“All right,” said Mr. Bince, “I suppose we +shall see you Thursday, but just bear in mind, please, that you and +I can work better together than at cross-purposes.”</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XVII" name="Ch_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h3> +<h2>JIMMY ON THE JOB.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>As Jimmy left the office he discovered that those last words of +Bince’s had made a considerable and a rather unfavorable +impression on him. He was sure that there was an underlying +meaning, though just what it portended he was unable to +imagine.</p> +<p>From the International Machine Company Jimmy went directly to +the restaurant where he and Little Eva had dined the night before. +He found her waiting for him, as they had agreed she would.</p> +<p>“Well, what luck?” she asked as he took the chair +next to her.</p> +<p>“Oh, I landed the job all right,” said Jimmy, +“but I feel like a crook. I don’t know how in the world +I ever came to stand for those letters of recommendation. They were +the things that got me the job all right, but I honestly feel just +as though I had stolen something.”</p> +<p>“Don’t feel that way,” said the girl. +“You’ll make good, I know, and then it won't make any +difference about the letters.”</p> +<p>“And now,” said Jimmy, “tell me where you got +them. You promised me that you would tell me afterward.”</p> +<p>“Oh,” said the girl, “that was easy. A girl +who rooms at the same place I do works in a big printing and +engraving plant and I got her to get me some samples of letterheads +early this morning. In fact, I went down-town with her when she +went to work and then I went over to the Underwood offices and +wrote the recommendations out on a machine—I used to be a +stenographer.”</p> +<p>“And you forged these names?” asked Jimmy, +horrified.</p> +<p>“I didn’t forge anybody’s name,” replied +the girl. “I made them up.”</p> +<p>“You mean there are no such men?”</p> +<p>“As far as I know there are not,” she replied, +laughing.</p> +<p>Slowly Jimmy drew the letters from his inside pocket and read +them one by one, spreading them out upon the table before him. +Presently he looked up at the girl.</p> +<p>“Why don’t you get a position again as a +stenographer?” he asked.</p> +<p>“I have been thinking of it,” she said; “do +you want me to?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” he said, “I want you to very +much.”</p> +<p>“It will be easy,” she said. “There is no +reason why I shouldn’t except that there was no one ever +cared what I did.”</p> +<p>As she finished speaking they were both aware that a man had +approached their table and stopped opposite them. Jimmy and the +girl looked up to see a large man in a dark suit looking down at +Eva. Jimmy did not recognize the man, but he knew at once what he +was.</p> +<p>“Well, O’Donnell, what’s doing?” asked +the girl.</p> +<p>“You know what’s doing,” said the officer. +“How miny toimes do the capt’in have to be afther +isshuin’ orrders tellin’ you janes to kape out uv +dacent places?”</p> +<p>The girl flushed. “I’m not working here,” she +said.</p> +<p>“To hell ye ain’t,” sneered O’Donnell. +“Didn’t I see ye flag this guy whin he came +in?”</p> +<p>“This young lady is a friend of mine,” said Jimmy. +“I had an appointment to meet her here.”</p> +<p>O’Donnell shifted his gaze from the girl to her escort and +for the first time appraised Jimmy thoroughly. “Oh, +it’s you, is it?” he asked.</p> +<p>“It is,” said Jimmy; “you guessed it the first +time, but far be it from me to know what you have guessed, as I +never saw you before, my friend.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’ve seen you before,” said +O’Donnell, “and ye put one over on me that time all +roight, I can see now. I don’t know what your game was, but +you and the Lizard played it pretty slick when you could pull the +wool over Patrick O’Donnell’s eyes the way ye +done.”</p> +<p>“Oh,” said Jimmy, “I’ve got you now. +You’re the bull who interfered with my friend and me on +Randolph and La Salle way back last July.”</p> +<p>“I am,” said O’Donnell, “and I thought +ye was a foine young gentleman, and you are a foine one,” he +said with intense sarcasm.</p> +<p>“Go away and leave us alone,” said the girl. +“We’re not doing anything. We ate in here last night +together. This man is perfectly respectable. He isn’t what +you think him, at all.”</p> +<p>“I’m not going to pinch him,” said +O’Donnell; “I ain’t got nothin’ to pinch +him for, but the next time I see him I’ll know +him.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said the girl, “are you going to beat +it or are you going to stick around here bothering us all evening? +There hasn’t anybody registered a complaint against me in +here.”</p> +<p>“Naw,” said O’Donnell, “they +ain’t, but you want to watch your step or they +will.”</p> +<p>“All right,” said the girl, “run along and +sell your papers.” And she turned again to Jimmy, and as +though utterly unconscious of the presence of the police officer, +she remarked, “That big stiff gives me a pain. He’s the +original Buttinsky Kid.”</p> +<p>O’Donnell flushed. “Watch your step, young +lady,” he said as he turned and walked away.</p> +<p>“I thought,” said Jimmy, “that it was the +customary practise to attempt to mollify the guardians of the +law.”</p> +<p>“Mollify nothing,” returned the girl. “None of +these big bruisers knows what decency is, and if you’re +decent to them they think you’re afraid of them. When they +got something on you you got to be nice, but when they +haven’t, tell them where they get off. I knew he +wouldn’t pinch me; he’s got nothing to pinch me for, +and he’d have been out of luck if he had, for there +hasn’t one of them got anything on me.”</p> +<p>“But +won’t he have it in for you?” asked Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Sure, he will,” said the girl. “He’s +got it in for everybody. That’s what being a policeman does +to a man. Say, most of these guys hate themselves. I tell you, +though,” she said presently and more seriously, +“I’m sorry on your account. These dicks never forget a +face. He’s got you catalogued and filed away in what he calls +his brain alongside of a dip and—a”—she +hesitated—“a girl like me, and no matter how high up +you ever get if your foot slips up will bob O’Donnell with +these two facts.”</p> +<p>“I’m not worrying,” said Jimmy. “I +don’t intend to let my foot slip in his direction.”</p> +<p>“I hope not,” said the girl.</p> +<hr class="short" /> +<p>Thursday morning Jimmy took up his duties as efficiency expert +at the plant of the International Machine Company. Since his +interview with Compton his constant companion had been “How +to Get More Out of Your Factory,” with the result that he +felt that unless he happened to be pitted against another +efficiency expert he could at least make a noise like efficiency, +and also he had grasped what he considered the fundamental +principle of efficiency, namely, simplicity.</p> +<p>“If,” he reasoned, “I cannot find in any plant +hundreds of operations that are not being done in the simplest +manner it will be because I haven’t even ordinary powers of +observation or intelligence,” for after his second interview +with Compton, Jimmy had suddenly realized that the job meant +something to him beside the two hundred and fifty dollars a +month—that he couldn’t deliberately rob Compton, as he +felt that he would be doing unless he could give value received in +services, and he meant to do his best to accomplish that end.</p> +<p>He knew that for a while his greatest asset would be bluff, but +there was something about Mason Compton that had inspired in the +young man a vast respect and another sentiment that he realized +upon better acquaintance might ripen into affection. Compton +reminded him in many ways of his father, and with the realization +of that resemblance Jimmy felt more and more ashamed of the part he +was playing, but now that he had gone into it he made up his mind +that he would stick to it, and there was besides the slight +encouragement that he had derived from the enthusiasm of the girl +who had suggested the idea to him and of her oft-repeated assertion +relative to her “hunch”, that he would make good.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XVIII" name="Ch_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h3> +<h2>THE EFFICIENCY EXPERT.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Unlike most other plants the International Machine Company paid +on Monday, and it was on the Monday following his assumption of his +new duties that Jimmy had his first clash with Bince. He had been +talking with Everett, the cashier, whom, in accordance with his +“method,” he was studying. From Everett he had learned +that it was pay-day and he had asked the cashier to let him see the +pay-roll.</p> +<p>“I don’t handle the pay-roll,” replied Everett +a trifle peevishly. “Shortly after Mr. Bince was made +assistant general manager a new rule was promulgated, to the effect +that all salaries and wages were to be considered as confidential +and that no one but the assistant general manager would handle the +pay-rolls. All I know is the amount of the weekly check. He hires +and fires everybody and pays everybody.”</p> +<p>“Rather unusual, isn’t it?” commented +Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Very,” said Everett. “Here’s some of us +have been with Mr. Compton since Bince was in long clothes, and +then he comes in here and says that we are not to be trusted with +the pay-roll.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said Jimmy, “I shall have to go to him +to see it then.”</p> +<p>“He won’t show it to you,” said Everett.</p> +<p>“Oh, I guess he will,” said Jimmy, and a moment +later he knocked at Bince’s office door. When Bince saw who +it was he turned back to his work with a grunt.</p> +<p>“I am sorry, Torrance,” he said, “but I +can’t talk with you just now. I’m very busy.”</p> +<p>“Working on the pay-roll?” said Jimmy. +“Yes,” snarled Bince.</p> +<p>“That’s what I came in to see,” said the +efficiency expert.</p> +<p>“Impossible,” said Bince. “The International +Machine Company’s pay-roll is confidential, absolutely +confidential. Nobody sees it but me or Mr. Compton if he wishes +to.”</p> +<p>“I understood from Mr. Compton,” said Jimmy, +“that I was to have full access to all records.”</p> +<p>“That merely applied to operation records,” said +Bince. “It had nothing to do with the pay-roll.”</p> +<p>“I should consider the pay-roll very closely allied to +operations,” responded Jimmy.</p> +<p>“I shouldn’t,” said Bince.</p> +<p>“You won’t let me see it then?” demanded +Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Look here,” said Bince, “we agreed that we +wouldn’t interfere with each other. I haven’t +interfered with you. Now don’t you interfere with me. This is +my work, and my office is not being investigated by any efficiency +expert or any one else.”</p> +<p>“I don’t recall that I made any such +agreement,” said Jimmy. “I must insist on seeing that +pay-roll.”</p> +<p>Bince turned white with suppressed anger, and then suddenly +slamming his pen on the desk, he wheeled around toward the +other.</p> +<p>“I might as well tell you something,” he said, +“that will make your path easier here, if you know it. I +understand that you want a permanent job with us. If you do you +might as well understand now as any other time that you have got to +be satisfactory to me. Of course, it is none of your business, but +it may help you to understand conditions when I tell you that I am +to marry Mr. Compton’s daughter, and when I do that he +expects to retire from business, leaving me in full charge here. +Now, do you get me?”</p> +<p>Jimmy had involuntarily acquired antipathy toward Bince at their +first meeting, an antipathy which had been growing the more that he +saw of the assistant general manager. This fact, coupled with +Bince’s present rather nasty manner, was rapidly arousing the +anger of the efficiency expert. “I didn’t come in +here,” he said, “to discuss your matrimonial prospects, +Mr. Bince. I came in here to see the pay-roll, and you will oblige +me by letting me see it.”</p> +<p>“I tell you again,” said Bince, “once and for +all, that you don’t see the pay-roll nor anything else +connected with my office, and you will oblige me by not bothering +me any longer. As I told you when you first came in, I am very +busy.”</p> +<p>Jimmy turned and left the room. He was on the point of going to +Compton’s office and asking for authority to see the +pay-roll, and then it occurred to him that Compton would probably +not take sides against his assistant general manager and future +son-in-law.</p> +<p>“I’ve got to get at it some other way,” said +Jimmy, “but you bet your life I’m going to get at it. +It looks to me as though there’s something funny about that +pay-roll.”</p> +<p>On his way out he stopped at Everett’s cage. “What +was the amount of the check for the pay-roll for this week, +Everett?” he asked.</p> +<p>“A little over ninety-six hundred dollars.”</p> +<p>“Thanks,” said Jimmy, and returned to the shops to +continue his study of his men, and as he studied them he asked many +questions, made many notes in his little note-book, and always +there were two questions that were the same: “What is your +name? What wages do you get?”</p> +<p>“I guess,” said Jimmy, “that in a short time I +will know as much about the payroll as the assistant general +manager.”</p> +<p>Nor was it the pay-roll only that claimed Jimmy’s +attention. He found that several handlings of materials could be +eliminated by the adoption of simple changes, and that a +rearrangement of some of the machines removed the necessity for +long hauls from one part of the shop to another. After an evening +with the little volume he had purchased for twenty-five cents in +the second-hand bookshop he ordered changes that enabled him to cut +five men from the pay-roll and at the same time do the work more +expeditiously and efficiently.</p> +<p>“Little book,” he said one evening, “I take my +hat off to you. You are the best two-bits’ worth I ever +purchased.”</p> +<p>The day following the completion of the changes he had made in +the shop he was in Compton’s office.</p> +<p>“Patton was explaining some of the changes you have +made,” remarked Compton. Patton was the shop foreman. +“He said they were so simple that he wondered none of us had +thought of them before. I quite agree with him.”</p> +<p>“So do I,” returned Jimmy, “but, then, my +whole method is based upon simplicity.” And his mind traveled +to the unpretentious little book on the table in his room on +Indiana Avenue.</p> +<p>“The feature that appeals to me most strongly is that you +have been able to get the cooperation of the men,” continued +Compton “that’s what I feared—that they +wouldn’t accept your suggestions. How did you do +it?”</p> +<p>“I showed them how they could turn out more work and make +more money by my plan. This appealed to the piece-workers. I +demonstrated to the others that the right way is the easiest +way—I showed them how they could earn their wages with less +effort.”</p> +<p>“Good,” said Compton. “You are running into no +difficulties then? Is there any way in which I can help +you?”</p> +<p>“I am getting the best kind of cooperation from the men in +the shop, practically without exception,” replied Jimmy, +“although there is one fellow, a straw boss named Krovac, who +does not seem to take as kindly to the changes I have made as the +others, but he really doesn’t amount to anything as an +obstacle.” Jimmy also thought of Bince and the pay-roll, but +he was still afraid to broach the subject. Suddenly an inspiration +came to him.</p> +<p>“Yes,” he said, “I believe your accounting +system could be improved—it will take me months to get around +to it, as my work is primarily in the shop, at first, at least. You +can save both time and money by having your books audited by a firm +of public accountants who can also suggest a new and more +up-to-date system.”</p> +<p>“Not a bad idea,” said Compton. “I think we +will do it.”</p> +<p>For another half-hour they discussed Jimmy’s work, and +then as the latter was leaving Compton stopped him.</p> +<p>“By the way, you don’t happen to know of a good +stenographer, do you? Miss Withe is leaving me Saturday.”</p> +<p>Jimmy thought a moment. Instantly he thought of Little Eva and +what she had said of her experience as a stenographer, and her +desire to abandon her present life for something in the line of her +former work. Here was a chance to repay her in some measure for her +kindness to him.</p> +<p>“Yes,” he said, “I do know of a young lady +who, I believe, could do the work. Shall I have her call on +you?”</p> +<p>“If you will, please,” replied Compton</p> +<p>As Jimmy left the office Compton rang for Bince, and when the +latter came, told him of his plan to employ a firm of accountants +to renovate their entire system of bookkeeping.</p> +<p>“Is that one of Torrance’s suggestions?” asked +Bince.</p> +<p>“Yes, the idea is his,” replied Compton, “and +I think it is a good one.”</p> +<p>“It seems to me,” said Bince, “that Torrance +is balling things up sufficiently as it is without getting in other +theorizers who have no practical knowledge of our business. The +result of all this will be to greatly increase our overhead by +saddling us with a lot of red-tape in the accounting department +similar to that which Torrance is loading the producing end +with.”</p> +<p>“I am afraid that you are prejudiced, Harold,” said +Compton. “I cannot discover that Torrance is doing anything +to in any way complicate the shop work. As a matter of fact a +single change which he has just made has resulted in our performing +certain operations in less time and to better advantage with five +less men than formerly. Just in this one thing he has not only more +than earned his salary, but is really paying dividends on our +investment.”</p> +<p>Bince was silent for a moment. He had walked to the window and +was looking out on the street below, then he turned suddenly toward +Compton.</p> +<p>“Mr. Compton,” he said, “you have made me +assistant general manager here and now, just when I am reaching a +point where I feel I can accomplish something, you are practically +taking the authority out of my hands and putting it in that of a +stranger. I feel not only that you are making a grave mistake, but +that it is casting a reflection on my work. It is making a +difference in the attitude of the men toward me that I am afraid +can never be overcome, and consequently while lessening my +authority it is also lessening my value to the plant. I am going to +ask you to drop this whole idea. As assistant general manager, I +feel that it is working injury to the organization, and I hope that +before it is too late—that, in fact, immediately, you will +discharge Torrance and drop this idea of getting outsiders to come +in and install a new accounting system.”</p> +<p>“You’re altogether too sensitive, Harold,” +replied Compton. “It is no reflection on you whatsoever. The +system under which we have been working is, with very few +exceptions, the very system that I evolved myself through years of +experience in this business. If there is any reflection upon any +one it is upon me and not you. You must learn to realize, if you do +not already, what I realize—that no one is infallible. Just +because the system is mine or yours we must not think that no +better system can be devised. I am perfectly satisfied with what +Mr. Torrance is doing, and I agree with his suggestion that we +employ a firm of accountants, but I think no less of you or your +ability on that account.”</p> +<p>Bince saw that it was futile to argue the matter further.</p> +<p>“Very well, sir,” he said. “I hope that I am +mistaken and that no serious harm will result. When do you expect +to start these accountants in?”</p> +<p>“Immediately,” replied Compton. “I shall get +in touch with somebody today.”</p> +<p>Bince shook his head dubiously as he returned to his own +office.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XIX" name="Ch_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h3> +<h2>PLOTTING.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The following Monday Miss Edith Hudson went to work for the +International Machine Company as Mr. Compton’s stenographer. +Nor could the most fastidious have discovered aught to criticize in +the appearance or deportment of Little Eva.</p> +<p>The same day the certified public accountants came. Mr. Harold +Bince appeared nervous and irritable, and he would have been more +nervous and more irritable had he known that Jimmy had just learned +the amount of the pay-check from Everett and that he had discovered +that, although five men had been laid off and no new ones employed +since the previous week, the payroll check was practically the same +as before— approximately one thousand dollars more than his +note-book indicated it should be.</p> +<p>“Phew!” whistled Jimmy. “These C.P.A.s are +going to find this a more interesting job than they anticipated. +Poor old Compton! I feel mighty sorry for him, but he had better +find it out now than after that grafter has wrecked his business +entirely.”</p> +<p>That afternoon Mr. Compton left the office earlier than usual, +complaining of a headache, and the next morning his daughter +telephoned that he was ill and would not come to the office that +day. During the morning as Bince was walking through the shop he +stopped to talk with Krovac.</p> +<p>Pete Krovac was a rat-faced little foreigner, looked upon among +the men as a trouble-maker. He nursed a perpetual grievance against +his employer and his job, and whenever the opportunity presented, +and sometimes when it did not present itself, he endeavored to +inoculate others with his dissatisfaction. Bince had hired the man, +and during the several months that Krovac had been with the +company, the assistant general manager had learned enough from +other workers to realize that the man was an agitator and a +troublemaker. Several times he had been upon the point of +discharging him, but now he was glad that he had not, for he +thought he saw in him a type that in the light of present +conditions might be of use to him.</p> +<p>In fact, for the past couple of weeks he had been using the man +in an endeavor to get some information concerning Torrance and his +methods that would permit him to go to Compton with a valid +argument for Jimmy’s discharge.</p> +<p>“Well, Krovac,” he said as he came upon the man, +“is Torrance interfering with you any now?”</p> +<p>“He hasn’t got my job yet,” growled the other, +“but he’s letting out hard-working men with families +without any reason. The first thing you know you’ll have a +strike on your hands.”</p> +<p>“I haven’t heard any one else complaining,” +said Bince. “You will, though,” replied Krovac. +“They don’t any of us know when we are going to be +canned to give Compton more profit, and men are not going to stand +for that long.”</p> +<p>“Then,” said Bince, “I take it that he really +hasn’t interfered with you much?”</p> +<p>“Oh, he’s always around asking a lot of fool +questions,” said Krovac. “Last week he asked every man +in the place what his name was and what wages he was getting. Wrote +it all down in a little book. I suppose he is planning on cutting +pay.”</p> +<p>Bince’s eyes narrowed. “He got that information from +every man in the shop?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Yes,” replied Krovac.</p> +<p>Bince was very pale. He stood in silence for some minutes, +apparently studying the man before him. At last he spoke.</p> +<p>“Krovac,” he said, “you don’t like this +man Torrance, do you?”</p> +<p>“No,” said the other, “I +don’t.”</p> +<p>“Neither do I,” said Bince. “I know his plans +even better than you. This shop has short hours and good pay, but +if we don’t get rid of him it will have the longest hours and +lowest pay of any shop in the city.”</p> +<p>“Well?” questioned Krovac.</p> +<p>“I think,” said Bince, “that there ought to be +some way to prevent this man doing any further harm +here.”</p> +<p>He looked straight into Krovac’s eyes.</p> +<p>“There is,” muttered the latter.</p> +<p>“It would be worth something of course,” suggested +Bince. “How much?” asked Krovac.</p> +<p>“Oh, I should think it ought to be worth a hundred +dollars,” replied Bince.</p> +<p>Krovac thought for a moment.</p> +<p>“I think I can arrange it,” he said, “but I +would have to have fifty now.”</p> +<p>“I cannot give it to you here,” said Bince, +“but if I should happen to pass through the shop this +afternoon you might find an envelope on the floor beside your +machine after I have gone.”</p> +<p>The following evening as Jimmy alighted from the Indiana Avenue +car at Eighteenth Street, two men left the car behind him. He did +not notice them, although, as he made his way toward his +boarding-house, he heard footsteps directly in his rear, and +suddenly noting that they were approaching him rapidly, he +involuntarily cast a glance behind him just as one of the men +raised an arm to strike at him with what appeared to be a short +piece of pipe.</p> +<p>Jimmy dodged the blow and then both men sprang for him. The +first one Jimmy caught on the point of the chin with a blow that +put its recipient out of the fight before he got into it, and then +his companion, who was the larger, succeeded in closing with the +efficiency expert. Inadvertently, however, he caught Jimmy about +the neck, leaving both his intended victim’s arms free with +the result that the latter was able to seize his antagonist low +down about the body, and then pressing him close to him and hurling +himself suddenly forward, he threw the fellow backward upon the +cement sidewalk with his own body on top. With a resounding whack +the attacker’s head came in contact with the concrete, his +arms relaxed their hold upon Jimmy’s neck, and as the latter +arose he saw both his assailants, temporarily at least, out of the +fighting.</p> +<p>Jimmy glanced hastily in both directions. There was no one in +sight. His boardinghouse was but a few steps away, and two minutes +later he was safe in his room.</p> +<p>“A year ago,” he thought to himself, smiling, +“my first thought would have been to have called in the +police, but the Lizard has evidently given me a new view-point in +regard to them,” for the latter had impressed upon Jimmy the +fact that whatever knowledge a policeman might have regarding one +was always acquired with the idea that eventually it might be used +against the person to whom it pertained.</p> +<p>“What a policeman don’t know about you will never +hurt you,” was one way that the Lizard put it.</p> +<p>When Jimmy appeared in the shop the next morning he noted +casually that Krovac had a cut upon his chin, but he did not give +the matter a second thought. Bince had arrived late. His first +question, as he entered the small outer office where Mr. +Compton’s stenographer and his worked, was addressed to Miss +Edith Hudson.</p> +<p>“Is Mr. Torrance down yet?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Yes,” replied the girl, “he has been here +some time. Do you wish to see him?”</p> +<p>Edith thought that the “No” which he snapped at her +was a trifle more emphatic than the circumstances seemed to +warrant, nor could she help but notice after he had entered his +office the vehement manner in which he slammed the door.</p> +<p>“I wonder what’s eating him,” thought Miss +Hudson to herself. “Of course he doesn’t like Jimmy, +but why is he so peeved because Jimmy came to work this +morning—I don’t quite get it.”</p> +<p>Almost immediately Bince sent for Krovac, and when the latter +came and stood before his desk the assistant general manager looked +up at him questioningly.</p> +<p>“Well?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Look at my chin,” was Krovac’s reply, +“and he damn near killed the other guy.”</p> +<p>“Maybe you’ll have better luck the next time,” +growled Bince.</p> +<p>“There ain’t goin’ to be no next time,” +asserted Krovac. “I don’t tackle that guy +again.”</p> +<p>Bince held out his hand.</p> +<p>“All right,” he said, “you might return the +fifty then.”</p> +<p>“Return nothin’,” growled Krovac. “I +sure done fifty dollars’ worth last night.”</p> +<p>“Come on,” said Bince, “hand over the +fifty.”</p> +<p>“Nothin’ doin’,” said Krovac with an +angry snarl. “It might be worth another fifty to you to know +that I wasn’t going to tell old man Compton.”</p> +<p>“You damn scoundrel!” exclaimed Bince.</p> +<p>“Don’t go callin’ me names,” admonished +Krovac. “A fellow that hires another to croak a man for him +for one hundred bucks ain’t got no license to call nobody +names.”</p> +<p>Bince realized only too well that he was absolutely in the power +of the fellow and immediately his manner changed.</p> +<p>“Come,” he said, “Krovac, there is no use in +our quarreling. You can help me and I can help you. There must be +some other way to get around this.”</p> +<p>“What are you trying to do?” asked Krovac. “I +got enough on you now to send you up, and I don’t mind +tellin’ yuh,” he added, “that I had a guy hid +down there in the shop where he could watch you drop the envelope +behind my machine. I got a witness, yuh understand!”</p> +<p>Mr. Bince did understand, but still he managed to control his +temper.</p> +<p>“What of it?” he said. “Nobody would believe +your story, but let’s forget that. What we want to do is get +rid of Torrance.”</p> +<p>“That isn’t all you want to do,” said Krovac. +“There is something else.”</p> +<p>Bince realized that he was compromised as hopelessly already as +he could be if the man had even more information.</p> +<p>“Yes,” he said, “there is something beside +Torrance’s interference in the shop. He’s interfering +with our accounting system and I don’t want it interfered +with just now.”</p> +<p>“You mean the pay-roll?” asked Krovac.</p> +<p>“It might be,” said Bince.</p> +<p>“You want them two new guys that are working in the office +croaked, too?” asked Krovac.</p> +<p>“I don’t want anybody ‘croaked’,” replied Bince. “I didn’t tell you to kill +Torrance in the first place. I just said I didn’t want him to +come back here to work.”</p> +<p>“Ah, hell, what you givin’ us?” growled the +other. “I knew what you meant and you knew what you meant, +too. Come across straight. What do you want?”</p> +<p>“I want all the records of the certified public +accountants who are working here,” said Bince after a +moment’s pause. “I want them destroyed, together with +the pay-roll records.”</p> +<p>“Where are they?”</p> +<p>“They will all be in the safe in Mr. Compton’s +office.”</p> +<p>Krovac knitted his brows in thought for several moments. +“Say,” he said, “we can do the whole thing with +one job.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean?” asked Bince,</p> +<p>“We can get rid of this Torrance guy and get the records, +too.”</p> +<p>“How?” asked Bince. “Do you know where +Feinheimer’s is?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Well, you be over there to-night about ten thirty and +I’ll introduce you to a guy who can pull off this whole +thing, and you and I won’t have to be mixed up in it at +all.”</p> +<p>“To-night at ten thirty,” said Bince.</p> +<p>“At Feinheimer’s,” said Krovac.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XX" name="Ch_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h3> +<h2>AN INVITATION TO DINE.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>As the workman passed through the little outer office Edith +Hudson glanced up at him.</p> +<p>“Where,” she thought after he had gone, “have +I seen that fellow before?”</p> +<p>Jimmy was in the shop applying “How to Get More Out of +Your Factory” to the problems of the International Machine +Company when he was called to the telephone.</p> +<p>“Is this Mr. Torrance?” asked a feminine voice.</p> +<p>“It is,” replied Jimmy.</p> +<p>“I am Miss Compton. My father will probably not be able to +get to the office for several days, and as he wishes very much to +talk with you he has asked me to suggest that you take dinner with +us this evening.” “Thank you,” said Jimmy. +“Tell Mr. Compton that I will come to the house right after +the shop closes to-night.”</p> +<p>“I suppose,” said Elizabeth Compton as she turned +away from the phone, “that an efficiency expert is a very +superior party and that his conversation will be far above my +head.”</p> +<p>Compton laughed. “Torrance seems to be a very likable +chap,” he said, “and as far as his work is concerned he +is doing splendidly.”</p> +<p>“Harold doesn’t think so,” said Elizabeth. +“He is terribly put out about the fellow. He told me only the +other night that he really believed that it would take years to +overcome the bad effect that this man has had upon the organization +and upon the work in general.”</p> +<p>“That is all poppycock,” exclaimed Compton, rather +more irritably than was usual with him. “For some reason +Harold has taken an unwarranted dislike to this man, but I am +watching him closely, and I will see that no very serious mistakes +are made.”</p> +<p>When Jimmy arrived at the Compton home he was ushered into the +library where Mr. Compton was sitting. In a corner of the room, +with her back toward the door, Elizabeth Compton sat reading. She +did not lay aside her book or look in his direction as Jimmy +entered, for the man was in no sense a guest in the light of her +understanding of the term. He was merely one of her father’s +employees here on business to see him, doubtless a very ordinary +sort of person whom she would, of course, have to meet when dinner +was announced, but not one for whom it was necessary to put oneself +out in any way.</p> +<p>Mr. Compton rose and greeted Jimmy cordially and then turned +toward his daughter.</p> +<p>“Elizabeth,” he said, “this is Mr. Torrance, +the efficiency expert at the plant.”</p> +<p>Leisurely Miss Compton laid aside her book. Rising, she faced +the newcomer, and as their eyes met, Jimmy barely stifled a gasp of +astonishment and dismay. Elizabeth Compton’s arched brows +raised slightly and involuntarily she breathed a low ejaculation, +“Efficiency expert!”</p> +<p>Simultaneously there flashed through the minds of both in rapid +succession a series of recollections of their previous meetings. +The girl saw the clerk at the stocking-counter, the waiter at +Feinheimer’s, the prize-fighter at the training quarters and +the milk-wagon driver. All these things passed through her mind in +the brief instant of the introduction and her acknowledgment of it. +She was too well-bred to permit any outward indication of her +recognition of the man other than the first almost inaudible +ejaculation that had been surprised from her.</p> +<p>The indifference she had felt prior to meeting the efficiency +expert was altered now to a feeling of keen interest as she +realized that she held the power to relieve Bince of the further +embarrassment of the man’s activities in the plant, and also +to save her father from the annoyance and losses that Bince had +assured her would result from Torrance’s methods. And so she +greeted Jimmy Torrance pleasantly, almost cordially.</p> +<p>“I am delighted,” she said, “but I am afraid +that I am a little awed, too, as I was just saying to father before +you came that I felt an efficiency expert must be a very superior +sort of person.”</p> +<p>If she placed special emphasis on the word +“superior” it was so cleverly done that it escaped the +notice of her father.</p> +<p>“Oh, not at all,” replied Jimmy. “We +efficiency experts are really quite ordinary people. One is apt to +meet us in any place that nice people are supposed to +go.”</p> +<p>Elizabeth felt the color rising slowly to her cheek. She +realized then that if she had thrown down the gage of battle the +young man had lost no time in taking it up.</p> +<p>“I am afraid,” she said, “that I do not +understand very much about the nature or the purpose of your work, +but I presume the idea is to make the concern with which you are +connected more prosperous—more successful?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said her father, “that is the idea, and +even in the short time he has been with us Mr. Torrance has +effected some very excellent changes.”</p> +<p>“It must be very interesting work,” commented the +girl; “a profession that requires years of particular +experience and study, and I suppose one must be really thoroughly +efficient and successful himself, too, before he can help to +improve upon the methods of others or to bring them greater +prosperity.”</p> +<p>“Quite true,” said Jimmy. “Whatever a man +undertakes he should succeed in before he can hope to bring success +to others.”</p> +<p>“Even in trifling occupations, I presume,” suggested +the girl, “efficiency methods are best—an efficiency +expert could doubtlessly drive a milk-wagon better than an ordinary +person?” And she looked straight into Jimmy’s eyes, an +unquestioned challenge in her own.</p> +<p>“Unquestionably,” said Jimmy. “He could wait +on table better, too.”</p> +<p>“Or sell stockings?” suggested Elizabeth.</p> +<p>It was at this moment that Mr. Compton was called to the +telephone in an adjoining room, and when he had gone the girl +turned suddenly upon Jimmy Torrance. There was no cordiality nor +friendship in her expression; a sneer upcurved her short upper +lip.</p> +<p>“I do not wish to humiliate you unnecessarily in the +presence of my father,” she said. “You have managed to +deceive him into believing that you are what you claim to be. Mr. +Bince has known from the start that you are incompetent and +incapable of accomplishing the results father thinks you are +accomplishing. Now that you know that I know you to be an impostor, +what do you intend to do?”</p> +<p>“I intend to keep right on with my work in the plant, Miss +Compton,” replied Jimmy.</p> +<p>“How long do you suppose father would keep you after I +told him what I know of you? Do you think that he would for a +moment place the future of his business in the hands of an +ex-waiter from Feinheimer’s—-that he would let a +milk-wagon driver tell him how to run his business?”</p> +<p>“It probably might make a difference,” said Jimmy, +“if he knew, but he will not know—listen, Miss Compton, +I have discovered some things there that I have not even dared as +yet to tell your father. The whole future of the business may +depend upon my being there during the next few weeks. If I +wasn’t sure of what I am saying I might consider acceding to +your demands rather than to embarrass you with certain knowledge +which I have.”</p> +<p>“You refuse to leave, then?” she demanded.</p> +<p>“I do,” he said.</p> +<p>“Very well,” she replied; “I shall tell father +when he returns to this room just what I know of you.”</p> +<p>“Will you tell him,” asked Jimmy, “that you +went to the training quarters of a prize-fighter, or that you dined +unescorted at Feinheimer’s at night and were an object of the +insulting attentions of such a notorious character as Steve +Murray?”</p> +<p>The girl flushed. “You would tell him that?” she +demanded. “Oh, of course, I might have known that you would. +It is difficult to realize that any one dining at my father’s +home is not a gentleman. I had forgotten for the moment.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Jimmy, “I would tell him, not from +a desire to harm you, but because this is the only way that I can +compel you to refrain from something that would result in +inestimable harm to your father.”</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XXI" name="Ch_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h3> +<h2>JIMMY TELLS THE TRUTH.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Mr. Compton returned to the room before Jimmy had discovered +whether the girl intended to expose him or not. She said nothing +about the matter during dinner, and immediately thereafter she +excused herself, leaving the two men alone.</p> +<p>During the conversation that ensued Jimmy discovered that Bince +had been using every argument at his command to induce Compton to +let him go, as well as getting rid of the certified public +accountants.</p> +<p>“I can’t help but feel,” said Compton, +“that possibly there may be some reason in what Mr. Bince +says, for he seems to feel more strongly on this subject than +almost any question that has ever arisen in the plant wherein we +differed, and it may be that I am doing wrong to absolutely ignore +his wishes in the matter.</p> +<p>“As a matter of fact, Mr. Torrance, I have reached the +point where I don’t particularly relish a fight, as I did in +the past. I would rather have things run along smoothly than to +have this feeling of unrest and unpleasantness that now exists in +the plant. I do not say that you are to blame for it, but the fact +remains that ever since you came I have been constantly harassed by +this same unpleasant condition which grows worse day by day. There +is no question but what you have accomplished a great deal for us +of a practical nature, but I believe in view of Mr. Bince’s +feelings in the matter that we had better terminate our +arrangement.”</p> +<p>Jimmy suddenly noted how old and tired his employer looked. He +realized, too, that for a week he had been fighting an incipient +influenza and that doubtless his entire mental attitude was +influenced by the insidious workings of the disease, one of the +marked symptoms of which he knew to be a feeling of despondency and +mental depression, which sapped both courage and initiative.</p> +<p>They were passing through the hallway from the dining-room to +the library, and as Compton concluded what was equivalent to +Jimmy’s discharge, he had stopped and turned toward the +younger man. They were standing near the entrance to the music-room +in which Elizabeth chanced to be, so that she overheard her +father’s words, and not without a smile of satisfaction and +relief.</p> +<p>“Mr. Compton,” replied Jimmy, “no matter what +you do with me, you simply must not let those C.P.A.’s go +until they have completed their work. I know something of what it +is going to mean to your business, but I would rather that the +reports come from them than from me.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean?” asked Compton.</p> +<p>“I didn’t want to be the one to tell you,” +replied Jimmy. “I preferred that the C.P.A.’s discover +it, as they will within the next day or two—you are being +systematically robbed. I suspected it before I had been there ten +days, and I was absolutely sure of it at the time I suggested you +employ the C.P.A.’s. You are being robbed at the rate of +approximately one thousand dollars a week.”</p> +<p>“How?” asked Compton.</p> +<p>“I would rather you would wait for the report of the +C.P.A.’s,” returned Jimmy.</p> +<p>“I wish to know now,” said Compton, “how I am +being robbed.”</p> +<p>Jimmy looked straight into the older man’s eyes. +“Through the pay-roll,” he replied.</p> +<p>For a full minute Compton did not speak.</p> +<p>“You may continue with your work in the plant,” he +said at last, “and we will keep the accountants, for a while +at least. And now I am going to ask you to excuse me. I find that I +tire very quickly since I have been threatened with +influenza.”</p> +<p>Jimmy bid his employer good night, and Mr. Compton turned into +the library as the former continued along across the hall to the +entrance. He was putting on his overcoat when Elizabeth Compton +emerged from the music-room and approached him.</p> +<p>“I overheard your conversation with father,” she +said. “It seems to me that you are making a deliberate +attempt to cause him worry and apprehension—you are taking +advantage of his illness to frighten him into keeping you in his +employ. I should think you would be ashamed of yourself.”</p> +<p>“I am sorry that you think that,” said Jimmy. +“If it was not for your father and you I wouldn’t have +urged the matter at all.”</p> +<p>“You are just doing it to hold your position,” +retorted the girl, “and now, by threats of blackmail you +prevent me from exposing you—you are a despicable +cur.”</p> +<p>Jimmy felt the blood mounting to his face. He was mortified and +angry, and yet he was helpless because his traducer was a woman. +Unconsciously he drew himself to his full height.</p> +<p>“You will have to think about me as you please,” he +said; “I cannot influence that, but I want you to understand +that you are not to interfere with my work. I think we understand +one another perfectly, Miss Compton. Good night.”</p> +<p>And as he closed the door behind him he left a very angry young +lady biting her lower lip and almost upon the verge of angry +tears.</p> +<p>“The boor,” she exclaimed; “he dared to order +me about and threaten me.”</p> +<p>The telephone interrupted her unhappy train of thoughts. It was +Bince.</p> +<p>“I am sorry, Elizabeth,” he said, “but I +won’t be able to come up this evening. I have some important +business to attend to. How is your father?”</p> +<p>“He seems very tired and despondent,” replied +Elizabeth. “That efficiency person was here to dinner. He +just left.”</p> +<p>She could not see the startled and angry expression of +Bince’s face as he received this information. +“Torrance was there?” he asked. “How did that +happen?”</p> +<p>“Father asked him to dinner, and when he wanted to +discharge the fellow Torrance told him something that upset father +terribly, and urged that he be kept a little while longer, to which +father agreed.”</p> +<p>“What did he tell him?” asked Bince.</p> +<p>“Oh, some alarmist tale about somebody robbing father. I +didn’t quite make out what it was all about, but it had +something to do with the pay-roll.”</p> +<p>Bince went white. “Don’t believe anything that +fellow says,” he exclaimed excitedly: “he’s +nothing but a crook. Elizabeth, can’t you make your father +realize that he ought to get rid of the man, that he ought to leave +things to me instead of trusting an absolute stranger?”</p> +<p>“I have,” replied the girl, “and he was on the +point of doing it until Torrance told him this story.”</p> +<p>“Something will have to be done,” said Bince, +“at once. I’ll be over to see your father in the +morning. Good-by, dear,” and he hung up the receiver.</p> +<p>After Jimmy left the Compton home he started to walk down-town. +It was too early to go to his dismal little room on Indiana Avenue. +The Lizard was still away. He had seen nothing of him for weeks, +and with his going he had come to realize that he had rather +depended upon the Lizard for company. He was full of interesting +stories of the underworld and his dry humor and strange philosophy +amused and entertained Jimmy.</p> +<p>And now as he walked along the almost deserted drive after his +recent unpleasant scene with Elizabeth Compton he felt more blue +and lonely than he had for many weeks. He craved human +companionship, and so strong was the urge that his thoughts +naturally turned to the only person other than the Lizard who +seemed to have taken any particularly kindly interest in him. +Acting on the impulse he turned west at the first cross street +until he came to a drugstore. Entering a telephone-booth he called +a certain number and a moment later had his connection.</p> +<p>“Is that you, Edith?” he asked, and at the +affirmative reply, “this is Jimmy Torrance. I’m feeling +terribly lonesome. I was wondering if I couldn’t drag you out +to listen to my troubles?”</p> +<p>“Surest thing you know,” cried the girl. +“Where are you?” He told her. “Take a Clark +Street car,” she told him, “and I’ll be at the +corner of North Avenue by the time you get there.”</p> +<p>As the girl hung up the receiver and turned from the phone a +slightly quizzical expression reflected some thought that was in +her mind. “I wonder,” she said as she returned to her +room, “if he is going to be like the rest?”</p> +<p>She seated herself before her mirror and critically examined her +reflection in the glass. She knew she was good-looking. No need of +a mirror to tell her that. Her youth and her good looks had been +her stock in trade, and yet this evening she appraised her features +most critically, and as with light fingers she touched her hair, +now in one place and now in another, she found herself humming a +gay little tune and she realized that she was very happy.</p> +<p>When Jimmy Torrance alighted from the Clark Street car he found +Edith waiting for him.</p> +<p>“It was mighty good of you,” he said. “I +don’t know when I have had such a fit of blues, but I feel +better already.”</p> +<p>“What is the matter?” she asked.</p> +<p>“I just had a talk with Mr. Compton,” he replied. +“He sent for me and I had to tell him something that I +didn’t want to tell him, although he’s got to find it +out sooner or later anyway.”</p> +<p>“Is there something wrong at the plant?” she +asked.</p> +<p>“Wrong doesn’t describe it,” he exclaimed +bitterly. “The man that he has done the most for and in whose +loyalty he ought to have the right of implicit confidence, is +robbing him blind.”</p> +<p>“Bince?” asked the girl. Jimmy nodded. “I +didn’t like that pill,” she said, “from the +moment I saw him.”</p> +<p>“Nor I,” said Jimmy, “but he is going to marry +Miss Compton and inherit the business. He’s the last man in +the place that Compton would suspect. It was just like suggesting +to a man that his son was robbing him.”</p> +<p>“Have you got the goods on him?” asked Edith.</p> +<p>“I will have as soon as the C.P.A.’s get to digging +into the pay-roll,” he replied, “and I just as good as +got the information I need even without that. Well, let’s +forget our troubles. What shall we do?”</p> +<p>“What do you want to do?” she asked.</p> +<p>He could not tell by either her tone or expression with what +anxiety she awaited his reply. “Suppose we do something +exciting, like going to the movies,” he suggested with a +laugh.</p> +<p>“That suits me all right,” said the girl. +“There is a dandy comedy down at the Castle.”</p> +<p>And so they went to the picture show, and when it was over he +suggested that they have a bite to eat.</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you,” Edith suggested. +“Suppose we go to Feinheimer’s restaurant and see if we +can’t get that table that I used to eat at when you waited on +me?” They both laughed.</p> +<p>“If old Feinheimer sees me he will have me +poisoned,” said Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Not if you have any money to spend in his +place.”</p> +<p>It was eleven thirty when they reached Feinheimer’s. The +table they wanted was vacant, a little table in a corner of the +room and furthest from the orchestra. The waiter, a new man, did +not know them, and no one had recognized them as they entered.</p> +<p>Jimmy sat looking at the girl’s profile as she studied the +menu-card. She was very pretty. He had always thought her that, but +somehow to-night she seemed to be different, even more beautiful +than in the past. He wished that he could forget what she had been. +And he realized as he looked at her sweet girlish face upon which +vice had left no slightest impression to mark her familiarity with +vice, that it might be easy to forget her past. And then between +him and the face of the girl before him arose the vision of another +face, the face of the girl that he had set upon a pedestal and +worshiped from afar. And with the recollection of her came a +realization of the real cause of his sorrow and depression earlier +in the evening.</p> +<p>He had attributed it to the unpleasant knowledge he had been +forced to partially impart to her father and also in some measure +to the regrettable interview he had had with her, but now he knew +that these were only contributory causes, that the real reason was +that during the months she had occupied his thoughts and in the few +meetings he had had with her there had developed within him, +unknown to himself, a sentiment for her that could be described by +but one word—love.</p> +<p>Always, though he had realized that she was unattainable, there +must have lingered within his breast a faint spark of hope that +somehow, some time, there would be a chance, but after to-night he +knew there could never be a chance. She had openly confessed her +contempt for him, and how would she feel later when she realized +that through his efforts her happiness was to be wrecked, and the +man she loved and was to marry branded as a criminal?</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XXII" name="Ch_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h3> +<h2>A LETTER FROM MURRAY.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The girl opposite him looked up from the card before her. The +lines of her face were softened by the suggestion of a contented +smile. “My gracious!” she exclaimed. +“What’s the matter now? You look as though you had lost +your last friend.”</p> +<p>Jimmy quickly forced a smile to his lips. “On the +contrary,” he said, “I think I’ve found a regular +friend—in you.”</p> +<p>It was easy to see that his words pleased her.</p> +<p>“No,” continued Jimmy; “I was thinking of what +an awful mess I make of everything I tackle.”</p> +<p>“You’re not making any mess of this new job,” +she said. “You’re making good. You see, my hunch was +all right.”</p> +<p>“I wish you hadn’t had your hunch,” he said +with a smile. “It’s going to bring a lot of trouble to +several people, but now that I’m in it I’m going to +stick to it to a finish.”</p> +<p>The girl’s eyes were wandering around the room, taking in +the faces of the diners about them. Suddenly she extended her hand +and laid it on Jimmy’s.</p> +<p>“For the love of Mike,” she exclaimed. “Look +over there.”</p> +<p>Slowly Jimmy turned his eyes in the direction she indicated.</p> +<p>“What do you know about that?” he ejaculated. +“Steve Murray and Bince!”</p> +<p>“And thick as thieves,” said the girl.</p> +<p>“Naturally,” commented Jimmy.</p> +<p>The two men left the restaurant before Edith and Jimmy had +finished their supper, leaving the two hazarding various guesses as +to the reason for their meeting.</p> +<p>“You can bet it’s for no good,” said the girl. +“I’ve known Murray for a long while, and I never knew +him to do a decent thing in his life.”</p> +<p>Their supper over, they walked to Clark Street and took a +northbound car, but after alighting Jimmy walked with the girl to +the entrance of her apartment.</p> +<p>“I can’t thank you enough,” he said, +“for giving me this evening. It is the only evening I have +enjoyed since I struck this town last July.”</p> +<p>He unlocked the outer door for her and was holding it open.</p> +<p>“It is I who ought to thank you,” she said. Her +voice was very low and filled with suppressed feeling. “I +ought to thank you, for this has been the happiest evening of my +life,” and as though she could not trust herself to say more, +she entered the hallway and closed the door between them.</p> +<p>As Jimmy turned away to retrace his steps to the car-line he +found his mind suddenly in a whirl of jumbled emotions, for he was +not so stupid as to have failed to grasp something of the +significance of the girl’s words and manner.</p> +<p>“Hell!” he muttered. “Look what I’ve +done now!”</p> +<p>The girl hurried to her room and turned on the lights, and again +she seated herself before her mirror, and for a moment sat staring +at the countenance reflected before her. She saw lips parted to +rapid breathing, lips that curved sweetly in a happy smile, and +then as she sat there looking she saw the expression of the face +before her change. The lips ceased to smile, the soft, brown eyes +went wide and staring as though in sudden horror. For a moment she +sat thus and then, throwing her body forward upon her +dressing-table, she buried her face in her arms.</p> +<p>“My God!” she cried through choking sobs.</p> +<p>Mason Compton was at his office the next morning, contrary to +the pleas of his daughter and the orders of his physician. Bince +was feeling more cheerful. Murray had assured him that there was a +way out. He would not tell Bince what the way was.</p> +<p>“Just leave it to me,” he said. “The less you +know, the better off you’ll be. What you want is to get rid +of this fresh guy and have all the papers in a certain vault +destroyed. You see to it that only the papers you want destroyed +are in that vault, and I’ll do the rest.”</p> +<p>All of which relieved Mr. Harold Bince’s elastic +conscience of any feeling of responsibility in the matter. Whatever +Murray did was no business of his. He was glad that Murray +hadn’t told him.</p> +<p>He greeted Jimmy Torrance almost affably, but he lost something +of his self-composure when Mason Compton arrived at the office, for +Bince had been sure that his employer would be laid up for at least +another week, during which time Murray would have completed his +work.</p> +<p>The noon mail brought a letter from Murray.</p> +<p>“Show the enclosed to Compton,” it read. “Tell +him you found it on your desk, and destroy this letter.” The +enclosure was a crudely printed note on a piece of soiled +wrapping-paper:</p> +<p class="cen">TREAT YOUR MEN RIGHT OR<br /> +SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES<br /> +I. W. W.</p> +<p>Bince laid Murray’s letter face down upon the balance of +the open mail, and sat for a long time looking at the ominous words +of the enclosure. At first he was inclined to be frightened, but +finally a crooked smile twisted his lips. “Murray’s not +such a fool, after all,” he soliloquized.</p> +<p>“He’s framing an alibi before he starts.”</p> +<p>With the note in his hand, Bince entered Compton’s office, +where he found the latter dictating to Edith Hudson. “Look at +this thing!” exclaimed Bince, laying the note before Compton. +“What do you suppose it means?”</p> +<p>Compton read it, and his brows knitted. “Have the men been +complaining at all?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Recently I have heard a little grumbling,” replied +Bince. “They haven’t taken very kindly to +Torrance’s changes, and I guess some of them are afraid they +are going to lose their jobs, as they know he is cutting down the +force in order to cut costs.”</p> +<p>“He ought to know about this,” said Compton. +“Wait; I’ll have him in,” and he pressed a button +on his desk. A moment later Jimmy entered, and Compton showed him +the note.</p> +<p>“What do you think of it?” asked Compton.</p> +<p>“I doubt if it amounts to much,” replied Jimmy. +“The men have no grievance. It may be the work of some fellow +who was afraid of his job, but I doubt if it really emanates from +any organized scheme of intimidation. If I were you, sir, I would +simply ignore it.”</p> +<p>To Jimmy’s surprise, Bince agreed with him. It was the +first time that Bince had agreed with anything Jimmy had +suggested.</p> +<p>“Very well,” assented Compton, “but +we’ll preserve this bit of evidence in case we may need it +later,” and he handed the slip of paper to Edith Hudson. +“File this, please, Miss Hudson,” he said; and then, +turning to Bince:</p> +<p>“It may be nothing, but I don’t like the idea of it. +There is apt to be something underlying this, or even if it is only +a single individual and he happens to be a crank he could cause a +lot of trouble. Suppose, for instance, one of these crack-brained +foreigners in the shop got it into his head that Torrance here was +grinding him down in order to increase our profits? Why, he might +attack him at any time! I tell you, we have got to be prepared for +such a contingency, especially now that we have concrete evidence +that there is such a man in our employ. I think you ought to be +armed, Mr. Torrance. Have you a pistol?”</p> +<p>Jimmy shook his head negatively.</p> +<p>“No, sir,” he said; “not here.”</p> +<p>Compton opened a desk drawer.</p> +<p>“Take this one,” he said, and handed Jimmy an +automatic.</p> +<p>The latter smiled. “Really, Mr. Compton,” he said, +“I don’t believe I need such an article.”</p> +<p>“I want you to take it,” insisted Compton. “I +want you to be on the safe side.”</p> +<p>A moment later Bince and Jimmy left the office together. Jimmy +still carried the pistol in his hand.</p> +<p>“You’d better put that thing in your pocket,” +cautioned Bince.</p> +<p>They were in the small office on which Compton’s and +Bince’s offices opened, and Jimmy had stopped beside the desk +that had been placed there for him.</p> +<p>“I think I’ll leave it here,” he said. +“The thing would be a nuisance in my pocket,” and he +dropped it into one of the desk drawers, while Bince continued his +way toward the shop.</p> +<p>Compton was looking through the papers and letters on his desk, +evidently searching for something which he could not find, while +the girl sat waiting for him to continue his dictation.</p> +<p>“That’s funny,” commented Compton.</p> +<p>“I was certain that that letter was here. Have you seen +anything of a letter from Mosher?”</p> +<p>“No, sir,” replied Edith.</p> +<p>“Well, I wish you would step into Mr. Bince’s +office, and see if it is on his desk.”</p> +<p>Upon the assistant general manager’s desk lay a small pile +of papers, face down, which Edith proceeded to examine in search of +the Mosher letter. She had turned them all over at once, commencing +at what had previously been the bottom of the pile, so that she ran +through them all without finding the Mosher letter before she came +to Murray’s epistle.</p> +<p>As its import dawned upon her, her eyes widened at first in +surprise and then narrowed as she realized the value of her +discovery. At first she placed the letter back with the others just +as she had found them, but on second thought she took it up quickly +and, folding it, slipped it inside her waist. Then she returned to +Compton’s office.</p> +<p>“I cannot find the Mosher letter,” she said.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XXIII" name="Ch_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h3> +<h2>LAID UP.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Harriet Holden was sitting in Elizabeth’s boudoir. +“And he had the effrontery,” the latter was saying, +“to tell me what I must do and must not do! The idea! A +miserable little milk-wagon driver dictating to me!”</p> +<p>Miss Holden smiled.</p> +<p>“I should not call him very little,” she +remarked.</p> +<p>“I didn’t mean physically,” retorted +Elizabeth. “It is absolutely insufferable. I am going to +demand that father discharge the man.”</p> +<p>“And suppose he asks you why?” asked Harriet. +“You will tell him, of course, that you want this person +discharged because he protected you from the insults and attacks of +a ruffian while you were dining in Feinheimer’s at +night—is that it?”</p> +<p>“You are utterly impossible, Harriet!” cried +Elizabeth, stamping her foot. “You are as bad as that +efficiency person. But, then, I might have expected it! You have +always, it seems to me, shown a great deal more interest in the +fellow than necessary, and probably the fact that Harold +doesn’t like him is enough to make you partial toward him, +for you have never tried to hide the fact that you don’t like +Harold.”</p> +<p>“If you’re going to be cross,” said Harriet, +“I think I shall go home.”</p> +<p>At about the same time the Lizard entered Feinheimer’s. In +the far corner of the room Murray was seated at a table. The Lizard +approached and sat down opposite him. “Here I am,” he +said. “What do you want, and how did you know I was in +town?”</p> +<p>“I didn’t know,” said Murray. “I got a +swell job for you, and so I sent out word to get you.”</p> +<p>“You’re in luck then,” said the Lizard. +“I just blew in this morning. What kind of a job you +got?”</p> +<p>Murray explained at length.</p> +<p>“They got a watchman,” he concluded, “but +I’ve got a guy on de inside that’ll fix him.”</p> +<p>“When do I pull this off?” asked the Lizard.</p> +<p>“In about a week. I’ll let you know the night later. +Dey ordinarily draw the payroll money Monday, the same day dey pay, +but dis week they’ll draw it Saturday and leave it in the +safe. It’ll be layin’ on top of a bunch of books and +papers. Dey’re de t’ings you’re to destroy. As I +told you, it will all be fixed from de inside. Dere’s no +danger of a pinch. All you gotta do is crack de safe, put about a +four or five t’ousand dollar roll in your pocket, and as you +cross de river drop a handful of books and papers in. Nothin’ +to it—it’s the easiest graft you ever had.”</p> +<p>“You’re sure dat’s all?” asked the +Lizard.</p> +<p>“Sure thing!” replied Murray.</p> +<p>“Where’s de place?”</p> +<p>“Dat I can’t tell you until the day we’re +ready to pull off de job.”</p> +<p>At four o’clock that afternoon Jimmy Torrance collapsed at +his desk. The flu had struck him as suddenly and as unexpectedly as +it had attacked many of its victims. Edith Hudson found him, and +immediately notified Mr. Compton, with the result that half an hour +later Jimmy Torrance was in a small private hospital in Park +Avenue.</p> +<p>That night Bince got Murray over the phone. He told him of +Jimmy’s sickness.</p> +<p>“He’s balled up the whole plan,” he +complained. “We’ve either got to wait until he croaks +or is out again before we can go ahead, unless something else +arises to make it necessary to act before. I think I can hold +things off, though, at this end, all right.”</p> +<p>For four or five days Jimmy was a pretty sick man. He was +allowed to see no one, but even if Jimmy had been in condition to +give the matter any thought he would not have expected to see any +one, for who was there to visit him in the hospital, who was there +who knew of his illness, to care whether he was sick or well, alive +or dead? It was on the fifth day that Jimmy commenced to take +notice of anything. At Compton’s orders he had been placed in +a private room and given a special nurse, and to-day for the first +time he learned of Mr. Compton’s kindness and the fact that +the nurse was instructed to call Jimmy’s employer twice a day +and report the patient’s condition.</p> +<p>“Mighty nice of him,” thought Jimmy, and then to the +nurse: “And the flowers, too? Does he send those?”</p> +<p>The young woman shook her head negatively.</p> +<p>“No,” she said; “a young lady comes every +evening about six and leaves the flowers. She always asks about +your condition and when she may see you.”</p> +<p>Jimmy was silent for some time. “She comes every +evening?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Yes,” replied the nurse.</p> +<p>“May I see her this evening?” asked Jimmy.</p> +<p>“We’ll ask the doctor,” she replied; and the +doctor must have given consent, for at six o’clock that +evening the nurse brought Edith Hudson to his bedside.</p> +<p>The girl came every evening thereafter and sat with Jimmy as +long as the nurse would permit her to remain. Jimmy discovered +during those periods a new side to her character, a mothering +tenderness that filled him with a feeling of content and happiness +the moment that she entered the room, and which doubtless aided +materially in his rapid convalescence, for until she had been +permitted to see him Jimmy had suffered as much from mental +depression as from any other of the symptoms of his disease.</p> +<p>He had felt utterly alone and uncared for, and in this mental +state he had brooded over his failures to such an extent that he +had reached a point where he felt that death would be something of +a relief. Militating against his recovery had been the parting +words of Elizabeth Compton the evening that he had dined at her +father’s home, but now all that was very nearly +forgotten—at least crowded into the dim vistas of +recollection by the unselfish friendship of this girl of the +streets.</p> +<p>Jimmy’s nurse quite fell in love with Edith.</p> +<p>“She is such a sweet girl,” she said, “and +always so cheerful. She is going to make some one a mighty good +wife,” and she smiled knowingly at Jimmy.</p> +<p>The suggestion which her words implied came to Jimmy as a +distinct shock. He had never thought of Edith Hudson in the light +of this suggestion, and now he wondered if there could be any such +sentiment as it implied in Edith’s heart, but finally he put +the idea away with a shrug.</p> +<p>“Impossible,” he thought. “She thinks of me as +I think of her, only as a good friend.”</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XXIV" name="Ch_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h3> +<h2>IN THE TOILS.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>At the office of the International Machine Company the work of +the C.P.A.’s was drawing to a close. Their report would soon +be ready to submit to Mr. Compton, and as the time approached +Bince’s nervousness and irritability increased. Edith noticed +that he inquired each day with growing solicitude as to the reports +from the hospital relative to Jimmy’s condition. She knew +that Bince disliked Jimmy, and yet the man seemed strangely anxious +for his recovery and return to work.</p> +<p>In accordance with Jimmy’s plan, the C.P.A.’s were +to give out no information to any one, even to Mr. Compton, until +their investigation and report were entirely completed. This plan +had been approved by Mr. Compton, although he professed to be at +considerable loss to understand why it was necessary. It was, +however, in accordance with Jimmy’s plan to prevent, if +possible, any interference with the work of the auditors until +every available fact in the case had been ascertained and +recorded.</p> +<p>In the investigation of the pay-roll Bince had worked diligently +with the accountants. As a matter of fact, he had never left them a +moment while the pay-roll records were in their hands, and had gone +to much pain to explain in detail every question arising +therefrom.</p> +<p>Although the investigators seemed to accept his statements at +their face value, the assistant general manager was far from being +assured that their final report would redound to his credit.</p> +<p>On a Thursday they informed him that they had completed their +investigation, and the report would be submitted to Mr. Compton on +Saturday.</p> +<p>When Edith reached the hospital that evening she found Jimmy in +high spirits. He was dressed for the first time, and assured her +that he was quite able to return to work if the doctor would let +him, but the nurse shook her head. “You ought to stay here +for another week or ten days,” she admonished him.</p> +<p>“Nothing doing,”’ cried Jimmy. +“I’ll be out of here Monday at the latest.” But +when Edith told him that the C.P.A.’s had finished, and that +their report would be handed in Saturday, Jimmy announced that he +would leave the hospital the following day.</p> +<p>“But you can’t do it,” said the nurse.</p> +<p>“Why not?” asked Jimmy.</p> +<p>“The doctor won’t permit it.”</p> +<p>Edith tried to dissuade him, but he insisted that it was +absolutely necessary for him to be at the office when the +C.P.A.’s report was made.</p> +<p>“I’ll be over there Friday evening or Saturday +morning at the latest,” he said as she bid him good-bye.</p> +<p>And so it was that, despite the pleas of his nurse and the +orders of his physician, Jimmy appeared at the plant Friday +afternoon. Bince greeted him almost effusively, and Mr. Compton +seemed glad to see him out again.</p> +<p>That evening Harold Bince met Murray at Feinheimer’s, and +still later the Lizard received word that Murray wanted to see +him.</p> +<p>“Everything’s ready,” the boss explained to +the Lizard. “The whole thing’s framed for to-morrow +night. The watchman was discharged to-day. Another man is supposed +to have been hired to take the job, but of course he won’t +show up. You meet me here at seven thirty to-morrow night, and +I’ll give you your final instructions and tell you how to get +to the plant.” The C.P.A.’s were slow in completing +their report. At noon on Saturday it looked very much to Bince that +there would be no report ready before Monday. He had spent most of +the forenoon pacing his office, and at last, unable longer to stand +the strain, he had announced that he was going out to his country +club for a game of golf.</p> +<p>He returned to his down-town club about dinner-time, and at +eight o’clock he called up Elizabeth Compton.</p> +<p>“Come on up,” said the girl. “I’m all +alone this evening. Father went back to the office to examine some +reports that were just finished up late this afternoon.”</p> +<p>“I’ll be over,” said Bince, “as soon as +I dress.” If there was any trace of surprise or shock in his +tones the girl failed to notice it.</p> +<p>At ten o’clock that night a figure moved silently through +the dark shadows of an alleyway in the area of the International +Machine Company’s plant on West Superior Street. As he moved +along he counted the basement windows silently, and at the fifth +window he halted. Just a casual glance he cast up and down the +alley, and then, kneeling, he raised the sash and slipped quietly +into the darkness of the basement.</p> +<p>At about the same time Jimmy’s landlady called him to the +telephone, where a man’s voice asked if “this was Mr. +Torrance?” Assured that such was the fact, the voice +continued: “I am the new watchman at the plant. There’s +something wrong here. I can’t get hold of Mr. Compton. I +think you better come down. I’ll be in Mr. Compton’s +office—” The message ceased as though central had +disconnected them.</p> +<p>“Funny,” thought Jimmy, “that he should call +me up. I wonder what the trouble can be.” But he lost no time +in getting his hat and starting for the works.</p> +<p>Although the Lizard knew that there was no danger of detection, +yet from long habit he moved through the plant of the International +Machine Company with the noiselessness of a disembodied spirit. +Occasionally, and just for the briefest instant, he flashed his +lamp ahead of him, but though he had never been in the place before +he found it scarcely necessary, so minute had been his instructions +for reaching the office from the fifth basement window.</p> +<p>The room he sought was on the second floor, and the Lizard had +mounted the steps from the basement to the first floor when he was +brought to a sudden stop by a noise from the floor above him. The +Lizard listened intently. No, he could not be mistaken. Too often +had he heard a similar sound.</p> +<p>Some one was tiptoeing across the floor above. The Lizard was in +the hallway close beside the stairs when he realized the footsteps +were coming toward the stairway, and a moment later that they were +cautiously descending. The Lizard flattened himself against the +wall, and if he breathed his lungs gave forth no sound.</p> +<p>If one may interpret footsteps—and the Lizard, from the +fund of a great experience, felt that he could—those +descending the stairway from above him might have been described as +nervous and repressed; for at least they gave the Lizard the +impression of one who desired to flee in haste and yet dared not do +so, for fear of attracting attention by the increased noise that +greater speed might entail.</p> +<p>At least the Lizard knew that those were the footsteps of no +watchman, but whether it be guardian of the law or fellow criminal +the Lizard had no wish to be discovered. He wondered what had gone +wrong with Murray’s plans, and, suddenly imbued with the +natural suspicion of the criminal, it occurred to him that the +whole thing might be a frame-up to get him; and yet why Murray +should wish to get him he could not imagine. He ran over in his +mind a list of all those who might feel enmity toward him, but among +them all the Lizard could cast upon none who might have sufficient +against him to warrant such an elaborate scheme of revenge.</p> +<p>The footsteps passed him and continued on toward the foot of the +stairs where was the main entrance which opened upon the street. At +the door the footsteps halted, and as the Lizard’s eyes bored +through the darkness in the direction of the other prowler the +latter struck a match upon the panel of the door and lighted a +cigarette, revealing his features momentarily but distinctly to the +watcher in the shadow of the stairway. Then he opened the door and +passed out into the night.</p> +<p>The Lizard, listening intently for a few moments to assure +himself that there was no one else above, and that the man who had +just departed was not returning, at last continued his way to the +foot of the stairs, which he ascended to the second floor. Passing +through the outer office, he paused a moment before the door to +Compton’s private office, and then silently turning the knob +he gently pushed the door open and stepped into the room.</p> +<p>Beyond the threshold he halted and pressed the button of his +flash-lamp. For just an instant its faint rays illumined the +interior of the room, and then darkness blotted out the scene. But +whatever it was that the little flash-lamp had revealed was +evidently in the nature of a surprise, and perhaps something of a +shock, to the Lizard, for he drew back with a muttered oath, backed +quietly out of the room, closed the door after him, and, moving +much more swiftly than he had entered, retraced his steps to the +fifth window on the alley, and was gone from the scene with +whatever job he had contemplated unexecuted.</p> +<p>A half-hour later detective headquarters at the Central Station +received an anonymous tip: “Send some one to the office of +the International Machine Company, on the second floor of West +Superior Street.”</p> +<p>It was ten thirty when Jimmy reached the plant. He entered the +front door with his own latchkey, pressed the button which lighted +the stairway and the landing above, and, ascending, went straight +to Mr. Compton’s office, turned the knob, and opened the +door, to find that the interior was dark.</p> +<p>“Strange,” he thought, “that after sending for +me the fellow didn’t wait.” As these thoughts passed +through his mind he fumbled on the wall for the switch, and, +finding it, flooded the office with light.</p> +<p>As he turned again toward the room he voiced a sudden +exclamation of horror, for on the floor beside his desk lay the +body of Mason Compton! As Jimmy stepped quickly toward +Compton’s body and kneeled beside it a man tiptoed quietly up +the front stairway, while another, having ascended from the rear, +was crossing the outer office with equal stealth.</p> +<p>Jimmy felt of Compton’s face and hands. They were warm. +And then he placed his ear close against the man’s breast, in +order to see if he could detect the beating of the heart. He was in +this position when he was startled by a gruff voice behind him.</p> +<p>“Put ‘em up!” it admonished curtly, and Jimmy +turned to see two men standing in the doorway with pistols leveled +at him.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XXV" name="Ch_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h3> +<h2>CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>At first Jimmy thought they were the perpetrators of the deed, +but almost immediately he recognized one of them as +O’Donnell, the erstwhile traffic officer who had been +promoted to a detective sergeancy since Jimmy had first met +him.</p> +<p>“Compton has been murdered,” said Jimmy dully. +“He is dead.”</p> +<p>“Put up your hands,” snapped O’Donnell for the +second time, “and be quick about it!”</p> +<p>It was then for the first time that Jimmy realized the meaning +that might be put upon his presence alone in the office with his +dead employer. O’Donnell’s partner searched him, but +found no weapon upon him.</p> +<p>“Where’s the gat?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Whoever did this probably took it with him,” said +Jimmy. “Find the watchman.”</p> +<p>They made Jimmy sit down in a corner, and while one of them +guarded him the other called up central, made his report, and asked +for an ambulance and the wagon. Then O’Donnell commenced to +examine the room. A moment later he found an automatic behind the +door across the room from where Compton’s body lay.</p> +<p>“Ever see this before?” asked O’Donnell, +holding the pistol up to Jimmy.</p> +<p>“If you’re asking me if it’s mine, no,” +said Jimmy. “I have a gun, but it’s home. I never carry +it. I didn’t do this, O’Donnell,” he continued. +“There was no reason why I should do it, so instead of +wasting your time on me while the murderer escapes you’d +better get busy on some other theory, too. It won’t do any +harm, anyway.”</p> +<p>The wagon came and took Jimmy to the station, and later he was +questioned by the lieutenant in charge.</p> +<p>“You say this is not your pistol?” asked the police +officer.</p> +<p>“It is not,” replied Jimmy.</p> +<p>“You never saw it before?”</p> +<p>“No, I have not.”</p> +<p>The lieutenant turned to one of his men, who went to the door, +and, opening it, returned almost immediately with Bince.</p> +<p>“Do you know this man, Mr. Bince?” asked the +lieutenant.</p> +<p>“I certainly do,” said Bince.</p> +<p>“Did you ever see this pistol before?”</p> +<p>Bince took the weapon and examined it.</p> +<p>“Yes,” he said.</p> +<p>“Under what circumstances?” asked the +lieutenant.</p> +<p>“It was one of two that Mr. Compton had in his desk. This +one he loaned to Torrance two or three weeks ago. I was in the +office at the time.”</p> +<p>The officer turned toward Jimmy.</p> +<p>“Now do you recognize it?” he asked.</p> +<p>“I haven’t denied,” said Jimmy, “that +Mr. Compton had loaned me a pistol. As a matter of fact, I had +forgotten all about it. I do not particularly recognize this one as +the weapon he loaned me, though it is of the same type. There is no +way that I could identify the particular weapon he handed +me.”</p> +<p>“But you admit he loaned you one?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Jimmy.</p> +<p>“What did you do with it?” asked the policeman.</p> +<p>“I put it in my desk within five minutes after he gave it +to me, and I haven’t seen it since.”</p> +<p>“You say you couldn’t identify the pistol?” +said the officer.</p> +<p>Jimmy nodded.</p> +<p>“Well, we can, and have. The number of this pistol was +recorded when Mr. Compton bought it, as was the number of the other +one which is still in his desk. They were the only two pistols he +ever bought, according to Mr. Bince, and his daughter, aside from +one which he had at home, which has also been accounted for. The +drawer in which Mr. Bince saw you place this pistol we found open +and the pistol gone. It looks pretty bad for you, young fellow, and +if you want a chance to dodge the rope you’d better plead +guilty and tell us why you did it.”</p> +<p>Jimmy was given little opportunity for sleep that night. A +half-dozen times he was called back to the lieutenant’s +office for further questioning. He commenced to realize that the +circumstantial evidence was strongly against him, and now, as the +girl had warned him, his entirely innocent past was brought up +against him simply because his existence had been called to the +attention of a policeman, and the same policeman an inscrutable +Fate had ordained should discover him alone with a murdered +man.</p> +<p>O’Donnell made the most of his meager knowledge of Jimmy. +He told the lieutenant with embellishments of Jimmy’s +association with such characters as the Lizard and Little Eva; but +the police were still at a loss to discover a motive.</p> +<p>This, however, was furnished the next morning, when Elizabeth +Compton, white and heavy-eyed, was brought to the station to +identify Jimmy. There was deep compassion in the young man’s +face as he was ushered into the presence of the stricken girl, +while at sight of him hers mirrored horror, contempt, and +hatred.</p> +<p>“You know this man?” asked the lieutenant.</p> +<p>“Yes,” she replied. “His name is Torrance. I +have seen him a number of times in the past year. He worked as a +clerk in a store, in the hosiery department, and waited on me +there. Later I”—she hesitated—“I saw him +in a place called Feinheimer’s. He was a waiter. Then he was +a sparring partner, I think they call it, for a prizefighter. Some +of my friends took me to a gymnasium to see the fighter training, +and I recognized this man.</p> +<p>“I saw him again when he was driving a milk-wagon. He +delivered milk at a friend’s house where I chanced to be. The +last time I saw him was at my father’s home. He had obtained +employment in my father’s plant as an efficiency expert. He +seemed to exercise some strange power over father, who believed +implicitly in him, until recently, when he evidently commenced to +have doubts; for the night that the man was at our house I was +sitting in the music-room when they passed through the hallway, and +I heard father discharge him. But the fellow pleaded to be +retained, and finally father promised to keep him for a while +longer, as I recall it, at least until certain work was completed +at the plant. This work was completed yesterday. That’s all I +know. I do not know whether father discharged him again or +not.”</p> +<p>Harriet Holden had accompanied her friend to the police station, +and was sitting close beside her during the examination, her eyes +almost constantly upon the face of the prisoner. She saw no fear +there, only an expression of deep-seated sorrow for her friend.</p> +<p>The lieutenant was still asking questions when there came a +knock at the door, which was immediately opened, revealing +O’Donnell with a young woman, whom he brought inside.</p> +<p>“I guess we’re getting to the bottom of it,” +announced the sergeant. “Look who I found workin’ over +there as Compton’s stenographer.”</p> +<p>“Well, who is she?” demanded the lieutenant.</p> +<p>“A jane who used to hang out at Feinheimer’s. She +has been runnin’ around with this bird. They tell me over +there that Compton hired her on this fellow’s recommendation. +Get hold of the Lizard now, and you’ll have the whole +bunch.”</p> +<p>Thus did Sergeant Patrick O’Donnell solve the entire +mystery with Sherlockian ease and despatch.</p> +<p>At Jimmy’s preliminary hearing he was held to the grand +jury, and on the strength of the circumstantial evidence against +him that body voted a true bill. Edith Hudson, against whom there +was no evidence of any nature, was held as a witness for the State, +and a net was thrown out for the Lizard which dragged in nearly +every pickpocket in town except the man they sought.</p> +<p>Jimmy had been in jail for about a week when he received a +visitor. A turnkey brought her to his cell. It was Harriet Holden. +She greeted him seriously but pleasantly, and then she asked the +turnkey if she might go inside.</p> +<p>“It’s against the rules, miss,” he said, +“but I guess it will be all right.” He recalled that +the sheriff had said that the girl’s father was a friend of +his, and so assumed that it would be safe to relax the rules in her +behalf. He had been too long an employee of the county not to know +that rules are often elastic to the proper pressure.</p> +<p>“I have been wanting to talk to you,” said the girl +to Jimmy, “ever since this terrible thing happened. Somehow I +can not believe that you are guilty, and there must be some way in +which you can prove your innocence.”</p> +<p>“I have been trying to think out how I might,” said +Jimmy, “but the more I think about it the more damning the +circumstantial evidence against me appears.”</p> +<p>“There must always be a motive for a crime like +that,” said Harriet. “I cannot believe that a simple +fear of his discharge would be sufficient motive for any man to +kill his employer.”</p> +<p>“Not to kill a man who had been as good to me as Mr. +Compton was,” said Jimmy, “or a man whom I admired so +much as I did him. As a matter of fact, he was not going to +discharge me, Miss Holden, and I had an opportunity there for a +very successful future; but now that he is dead there is no one who +could verify such a statement on my part.”</p> +<p>“Who could there be, then, who might wish to kill him, and +what could the motive be?”</p> +<p>“I can only think,” said Jimmy, “of one man; +and even in his case the idea is too horrible—too +preposterous to be entertained.”</p> +<p>Harriet Holden looked up at him quickly, a sudden light in her +eyes, and an expression of almost horrified incredulity upon her +face. “You don’t mean—” she started.</p> +<p>“I wouldn’t even use his name in connection with the +thought,” Jimmy interrupted; “but he is the only man of +whom I know who could have profited by Mr. Compton’s death, +and, on the other hand, whose entire future would have been blasted +possibly had Mr. Compton lived until the following +morning.”</p> +<p>The girl remained for half an hour longer, and when she left she +went directly to the home of Elizabeth Compton.</p> +<p>“I told you, Elizabeth,” she said, “that I was +going to see Mr. Torrance. You dissuaded me for some time, but I +finally went today, and I am glad that I went. No one except +yourself could have loved your father more than I, or have been +more horrified or grieved at his death; but that is no reason why +you should aid in the punishment of an innocent man, as I am +confident that this man Torrance is, and I tell you Elizabeth if +you were not prejudiced you would agree with me.</p> +<p>“I have talked with Torrance for over half an hour to-day, +and since then nothing can ever make me believe that that man could +commit a cold-blooded murder. Harold has always hated him—you +admit that yourself—and now you are permitting him to +prejudice you against the man purely on the strength of that +dislike. I am going to help him. I’m going to do it, not only +to obtain justice for him, but to assist in detecting and punishing +the true murderer.”</p> +<p>“I don’t see, Harriet, how you can take any interest +in such a creature,” said Elizabeth. “You know from the +circumstances under which we saw him before father employed him +what type of man he is, and it was further exemplified by the +evidence of his relationship with that common woman of the +streets.”</p> +<p>“He told me about her to-day,” replied Harriet. +“He had only known her very casually, but she helped him +once—loaned him some money when he needed it—-and when +he found that she had been a stenographer and wanted to give up the +life she had been leading and be straight again, he helped her.</p> +<p>“I asked Sergeant O’Donnell particularly about that, +and even he had to admit that there was no evidence whatever to +implicate the girl or show that the relations between her and Mr. +Torrance had been anything that was not right; and you know +yourself how anxious O’Donnell has been to dig up evidence of +any kind derogatory to either of them.”</p> +<p>“How are you going to help him?” asked Elizabeth. +“Take flowers and cake to him in jail?”</p> +<p>There was a sneer on her face and on her lips. “If he +cares for flowers and cakes,” replied Harriet, “I +probably shall; but I have another plan which will probably be more +practical.”</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XXVI" name="Ch_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h3> +<h2>“THE ONLY FRIENDS HE HAS.”</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>So it befell that the next day a well-known criminal attorney +called on Jimmy Torrance at the county jail. “I +understand,” he said to Jimmy, “that you have retained +no attorney. I have been instructed by one of my clients to take +your case.”</p> +<p>Jimmy looked at him in silence for a moment.</p> +<p>“Who is going to pay you?” he asked with a smile. +“I understand attorneys expect to be paid.”</p> +<p>“That needn’t worry you!” replied the +lawyer.</p> +<p>“You mean that your client is going to pay for my defense? +What’s his name?”</p> +<p>“That I am not permitted to tell you,” replied the +lawyer.</p> +<p>“Very well. Tell your client that I appreciate his +kindness, but I cannot accept it.”</p> +<p>“Don’t be a fool,” said the attorney. +“This client of mine can well afford the expense, and anyway, +my instructions are to defend you whether you want me to or not, so +I guess you can’t help yourself.”</p> +<p>Jimmy laughed with the lawyer. “All right,” he said. +“The first thing I wish you’d do is to get Miss Hudson +out of jail. There is doubtless some reason for suspicion attaching +to me because I was found alone with Mr. Compton’s body, and +the pistol with which he was shot was one that had been given to me +and which I kept in my desk, but there is no earthly reason why she +should be detained. She could have had absolutely nothing to do +with it.”</p> +<p>“I will see what can be done,” replied the attorney, +“although I had no instructions to defend her +also.”</p> +<p>“I will make that one of the conditions under which I will +accept your services,” said Jimmy.</p> +<p>The result was that within a few days Edith was released. From +the moment that she left the jail she was aware that she was being +shadowed.</p> +<p>“I suppose,” she thought, “that they expect to +open up a fund of new clues through me,” but she was +disturbed nevertheless, because she realized that it was going to +make difficult a thing that she had been trying to find some means +to accomplish ever since she had been arrested.</p> +<p>She went directly to her apartment and presently took down the +telephone-receiver, and after calling a public phone in a building +down-town, she listened intently while the operator was getting her +connection, and before the connection was made she hung up the +receiver with a smile, for she had distinctly heard the sound of a +man’s breathing over the line, and she knew that in all +probability O’Donnell had tapped in immediately on learning +that she had been released from jail.</p> +<p>That evening she attended a local motion-picture theater which +she often frequented. It was one of those small affairs, the width +of a city block, with a narrow aisle running down either side and +an emergency exit upon the alley at the far end of each aisle. The +theater was darkened when she entered and, a quick glance apprizing +her that no one followed her in immediately, she continued on down +one of the side aisles and passed through the doorway into the +alley.</p> +<p>Five minutes later she was in a telephone-booth in a drug-store +two blocks away.</p> +<p>“Is this Feinheimer’s?” she asked after she +had got her connection. “I want to talk to Carl.” She +asked for Carl because she knew that this man who had been +head-waiter at Feinheimer’s for years would know her +voice.</p> +<p>“Is that you, Carl?” she asked as a man’s +voice finally answered the telephone. “This is Little +Eva.”</p> +<p>“Oh, hello!” said the man. “I thought you were +over at the county jail.”</p> +<p>“I was released to-day,” she explained. “Well, +listen, Carl; I’ve got to see the Lizard. I’ve simply +got to see him to-night. I was being shadowed, but I got away from +them. Do you know where he is?”</p> +<p>“I guess I could find him,” said Carl in a low +voice. “You go out to Mother Kruger’s. I’ll tell +him you’ll be there in about an hour.”</p> +<p>“I’ll be waiting in a taxi outside,” said the +girl.</p> +<p>“Good,” said Carl. “If he isn’t there in +an hour you can know that he was afraid to come. He’s +layin’ pretty low.”</p> +<p>“All right,” said the girl, “I’ll be +there. You tell him that he simply must come.” She hung up +the receiver and then called a taxi. She gave a number on a side +street about a half block away, where she knew it would be +reasonably dark, and consequently less danger of detection.</p> +<p>Three-quarters of an hour later her taxi drew up beside Mother +Kruger’s, but the girl did not alight. She had waited but a +short time when another taxi swung in beside the road-house, turned +around and backed up alongside hers. A man stepped out and peered +through the glass of her machine. It was the Lizard.</p> +<p>Recognizing the girl he opened the door and took a seat beside +her. “Well,” inquired the Lizard, “What’s +on your mind?”</p> +<p>“Jimmy,” replied the girl.</p> +<p>“I thought so,” returned the Lizard. “It looks +pretty bad for him, don’t it? I wish there was some way to +help him.”</p> +<p>“He did not do it,” said the girl.</p> +<p>“It didn’t seem like him,” said the Lizard, +“but I got it straight from a guy who knows that he done it +all right.”</p> +<p>“Who?” asked Edith.</p> +<p>“Murray.”</p> +<p>“I thought he knew a lot about it,” said the girl. +“That’s why I sent for you. You haven’t got any +love for Murray, have you?”</p> +<p>“No,” replied the Lizard; “not so you could +notice it.”</p> +<p>“I think Murray knows a lot about that job. If you want to +help Jimmy I know where you can get the dope that will start +something, anyway.”</p> +<p>“What is it?” asked the Lizard.</p> +<p>“This fellow Bince, who is assistant general manager for +Compton, got a letter from Murray two or three weeks before Compton +was killed. Murray enclosed a threat signed I.W.W., and his letter +instructed Bince to show the threat to Compton. I haven’t got +all the dope on it, but I’ve got a hunch that in some way it +is connected with this job. Anyway, I’ve got both +Murray’s letter and the threat he enclosed. They’re +hidden in my desk at the plant. I can’t get them, of course; +they wouldn’t let me in the place now, and Murray’s so +strong with the police that I wouldn’t trust them, so I +haven’t told any one. What I want is for you to go there +to-night and get them.”</p> +<p>The Lizard was thinking fast. The girl knew nothing of his +connection with the job. She did not know that he had entered +Compton’s office and had been first to find his dead body; in +fact, no one knew that. Even Murray did not know that the Lizard +had succeeded in entering the plant, as the latter had told him +that he was delayed, and that when he reached there a patrol and +ambulance were already backed up in front of the building. He felt +that he had enough knowledge, however, to make the conviction of +Jimmy a very difficult proposition, but if he divulged the +knowledge he had and explained how he came by it he could readily +see that suspicion would be at once transferred from Jimmy to +himself.</p> +<p>The Lizard therefore was in a quandary. Of course, if +Murray’s connection was ever discovered the Lizard might then +be drawn into it, but if he could keep Murray out the Lizard would +be reasonably safe from suspicion, and now the girl had shown him +how he might remove a damaging piece of evidence against +Murray.</p> +<p>“You will get it, won’t you?” asked the +girl.</p> +<p>“Where are these papers?” he asked.</p> +<p>“They are in the outer office which adjoins Mr. +Compton’s. My desk stands at the right of the door as you +enter from the main office. Remove the right-hand lower drawer and +you will find the papers lying on the little wooden partition +directly underneath the drawer.”</p> +<p>“All right,” said the Lizard; “I’ll get +them.”</p> +<p>“Bless you, Lizard,” cried the girl. “I knew +you would help. You and I are the only friends he has. If we went +back on him he’d be sent up, for there’s lots of money +being used against him. He might even be hanged. I know from what I +have heard that the prosecuting attorney intends to ask for the +death penalty.”</p> +<p>The Lizard made no reply as he started to leave the taxi.</p> +<p>“Take them to his attorney,” said the girl, and she +gave him the name and address.</p> +<p>The Lizard grunted and entered his own cab. As he did so a man +on a motorcycle drew up on the opposite side and peered through the +window. The driver had started his motor as the newcomer +approached. From her cab the girl saw the Lizard and the man on the +motorcycle look into each other’s face for a moment, then she +heard the Lizard’s quick admonition to his driver, +“Beat it, bo!”</p> +<p>A sharp “Halt!” came from the man on the motorcycle, +but the taxicab leaped forward, and, accelerating rapidly, turned +to the left into the road toward the city. The girl had guessed at +the first glance that the man on the motorcycle was a police +officer. As the Lizard’s taxi raced away the officer circled +quickly and started in pursuit. “No chance,” thought +the girl. “He’ll get caught sure.” She could hear +the staccato reports from the open exhaust of the motorcycle +diminishing rapidly in the distance, indicating the speed of the +pursued and the pursuer.</p> +<p>And then from the distance came a shot and then another and +another. She leaned forward and spoke to her own driver. “Go +on to Elmhurst,” she said, “and then come back to the +city on the St. Charles Road.”</p> +<p>It was after two o’clock in the morning when the Lizard +entered an apartment on Ashland Avenue which he had for several +years used as a hiding-place when the police were hot upon his +trail. The people from whom he rented the room were eminently +respectable Jews who thought their occasional roomer what he +represented himself to be, a special agent for one of the federal +departments, a vocation which naturally explained the +Lizard’s long absences and unusual hours.</p> +<p>Once within his room the Lizard sank into a chair and wiped the +perspiration from his forehead, although it was by no means a warm +night. He drew a folded paper from his inside pocket, which, when +opened, revealed a small piece of wrapping paper within. They were +Murray’s letter to Bince and the enclosure.</p> +<p>“Believe me,” muttered the Lizard, “that was +the toughest job I ever pulled off and all I gets is two pieces of +paper, but I don’t know but what they’re worth +it.”</p> +<p>He sat for a long time looking at the papers in his hand, but he +did not see them. He was thinking of other things: of prison walls +that he had eluded so far through years of crime; of +O’Donnell, whom he knew to be working on the Compton case and +whose boast it had been that sooner or later he would get the +Lizard; of what might naturally be expected were the papers in his +hands to fall into the possession of Torrance’s attorney. It +would mean that Murray would be immediately placed in jeopardy, and +the Lizard knew Murray well enough to know that he would sacrifice +his best friend to save himself, and the Lizard was by no means +Murray’s best friend.</p> +<p>He realized that he knew more about the Compton murder case than +any one else. He was of the opinion that he could clear it up if he +were almost any one other than the Lizard, but with the record of +his past life against him, would any one believe him? In order to +prove his assertion it would be necessary to make admissions that +might incriminate himself, and there would be Murray and the +Compton millions against him; and as he pondered these things there +ran always through his mind the words of the girl, “You and I +are the only friends he has.”</p> +<p>“Hell,” ejaculated the Lizard as he rose from his +chair and prepared for bed.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XXVII" name="Ch_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h3> +<h2>THE TRIAL.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Edith Hudson spent a restless night, and early in the morning, +as early as she thought she could reach him, she called the office +of Jimmy’s attorney. She told the lawyer that some new +evidence was to have been brought in to him and asked if he had +received it. Receiving a negative reply she asked that she be +called the moment it was brought in.</p> +<p>All that day and the next she waited, scarcely leaving her room +for fear that the call might come while she was away. The days ran +into weeks and still there was no word from the Lizard.</p> +<p>Jimmy was brought to trial, and she saw him daily in the +courtroom and as often as they would let her she would visit him in +jail. On several occasions she met Harriet Holden, also visiting +him, and she saw that the other young woman was as constant an +attendant at court as she.</p> +<p>The State had established as unassailable a case as might be +built on circumstantial evidence. Krovac had testified that +Torrance had made threats against Compton in his presence, and +there was no way in which Jimmy’s attorneys could refute the +perjured statement. Jimmy himself had come to realize that his +attorney was fighting now for his life, that the verdict of the +jury was already a foregone conclusion and that the only thing left +to fight for now was the question of the penalty.</p> +<p>Daily he saw in the court-room the faces of the three girls who +had entered so strangely into his life. He noticed, with not a +little sorrow and regret, that Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden +always sat apart and that they no longer spoke. He saw the effect +of the strain of the long trial on Edith Hudson. She looked wan and +worried, and then finally she was not in court one day, and later, +through Harriet Holden, he learned that she was confined to her +room with a bad cold.</p> +<p>Jimmy’s sentiments toward the three women whose interests +brought them daily to the court-room had undergone considerable +change. The girl that he had put upon a pedestal to worship from +afar, the girl to whom he had given an idealistic love, he saw now +in another light. His reverence for her had died hard, but in the +face of her arrogance, her vindictiveness and her petty snobbery it +had finally succumbed, so that when he compared her with the girl +who had been of the street the latter suffered in no way by the +comparison.</p> +<p>Harriet Holden’s friendship and loyalty were a +never-ending source of wonderment to him, but he accepted her own +explanation, which, indeed, was fair enough, that her innate sense +of justice had compelled her to give him her sympathy and +assistance.</p> +<p>Just how far that assistance had gone Jimmy did not know, though +of late he had come to suspect that his attorney was being retained +by Harriet Holden’s father.</p> +<p>Bince appeared in the court-room only when necessity compelled +his presence on the witness stand. The nature of the man’s +testimony was such that, like Krovac’s, it was difficult of +impeachment, although Jimmy was positive that Bince perjured +himself, especially in a statement that he made of a conversation +he had with Mr. Compton the morning of the murder, in which he +swore that Compton stated that he intended to discharge Torrance +that day.</p> +<p>The effect of the trial seemed to have made greater inroads upon +Bince than upon Jimmy. The latter gave no indication of nervous +depression or of worry, while Bince, on the other hand, was thin, +pale and haggard. His hands and face continually moved and twitched +as he sat in the courtroom or on the witness chair. Never for an +instant was he at rest.</p> +<p>Elizabeth Compton had noticed this fact, too, and commented upon +it one evening when Bince was at her home.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter with you, Harold?” she +asked. “You look as though you are on the verge of nervous +prostration.”</p> +<p>“I’ve had enough to make any man nervous,” +retorted Bince irritably. “I can’t get over this +terrible affair, and in addition I have had all the weight and +responsibility of the business on my shoulders since, and the +straightening out of your father’s estate, which, by the way, +was in pretty bad shape.</p> +<p>“I wish, Elizabeth,” he went on, “that we +might be married immediately. I have asked you so many times +before, however, and you have always refused, that I suppose it is +useless now. I believe that I would get over this nervous condition +if you and I were settled down here together. I have no real home, +as you know—the club is just a stopping place. I might as +well be living at a hotel. If after the day’s work I could +come home to a regular home it would do me a world of good, I know. +We could be married quietly. There is every reason why we should, +especially now that you are left all alone.”</p> +<p>“Just what do you mean by immediately?” she +asked.</p> +<p>“To-morrow,” he replied.</p> +<p>For a long time she demurred, but finally she acceded to his +wishes, for an early marriage, though she would not listen to the +ceremony being performed the following day. They reached a +compromise on Friday morning, a delay of only a few days, and +Harold Bince breathed more freely thereafter than he had for a long +time before.</p> +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Harold Bince entered the court-room late on Friday +morning following the brief ceremony that had made them man and +wife. It had been generally supposed that to-day the case would go +to the jury as the evidence was all in, and the final arguments of +the attorneys, which had started the preceding day, would be +concluded during the morning session. It had been conceded that the +judge’s charge would be brief and perfunctory, and there was +even hope that the jury might return a verdict before the close of +the afternoon session, but when Bince and his bride entered the +court-room they found Torrance’s attorney making a motion for +the admission of new evidence on the strength of the recent +discovery of witnesses, the evidence of whom he claimed would +materially alter the aspect of the case.</p> +<p>An hour was consumed in argument before the judge finally +granted the motion. The first of the new witnesses called was an +employee of the International Machine Company. After the usual +preliminary questions the attorney for the defense asked him if he +was employed in the plant on the afternoon of March 24. The reply +was in the affirmative.</p> +<p>“Will you tell the jury, please, of any occurrence that +you witnessed there that afternoon out of the ordinary?”</p> +<p>“I was working at my machine,” said the witness, +“when Pete Krovac comes to me and asks me to hide behind a +big drill-press and watch what the assistant general manager done +when he comes through the shop again. So I hides there and I saw +this man Bince come along and drop an envelope beside +Krovac’s machine, and after he left I comes out as Krovac +picks it up, and I seen him take some money out of it.”</p> +<p>“How much money?” asked the attorney.</p> +<p>“There was fifty dollars there. He counted it in front of +me.”</p> +<p>“Did he say what it was for?”</p> +<p>“Yes, he said +Bince gave it to him to croak this fellow”—nodding +toward Jimmy.</p> +<p>“What fellow?” asked the attorney. “You mean +Mr. Torrance, the defendant?”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> +<p>“And what else? What happened after that?”</p> +<p>“Krovac said he’d split it with me if I’d go +along and help him.”</p> +<p>“Did you?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“What happened?”</p> +<p>“The guy beat up Krovac and come near croaking me, and got +away.”</p> +<p>“That is all,” said the attorney.</p> +<p>The prosecuting attorney, whose repeated objections to the +testimony of the witness had been overruled, waived +cross-examination.</p> +<p>Turning to the clerk, “Please call Stephen Murray,” +said Jimmy’s attorney.</p> +<p>Murray, burly and swaggering, took the witness chair. The +attorney handed him a letter. It was the letter that Murray had +written Bince enclosing the supposed I.W.W. threat.</p> +<p>“Did you ever see that before?” he asked.</p> +<p>Murray took the letter and read it over several times. He was +trying to see in it anything which could possibly prove damaging to +him.</p> +<p>“Sure,” he said at last in a blustering tone of +voice. “I wrote it. But what of it?”</p> +<p>“And this +enclosure?” asked the attorney. He handed Murray the slip of +soiled wrapping paper with the threat lettered upon it. “This +was received with your letter.”</p> +<p>Murray hesitated before replying. “Oh,” he said, +“that ain’t nothing. That was just a little +joke.”</p> +<p>“You were seen in Feinheimer’s with Mr. Bince on +March—Do you recall the object of this meeting?”</p> +<p>“Mr. Bince thought there was going to be a strike at his +plant and he wanted me to fix it up for him,” replied +Murray.</p> +<p>“You know the defendant, James Torrance?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Didn’t he knock you down once for insulting a +girl?” Murray flushed, but was compelled to admit the truth +of the allegation.</p> +<p>“You haven’t got much use for him, have you?” +continued the attorney.</p> +<p>“No, I haven’t,” replied Murray.</p> +<p>“You called the defendant on the telephone a half or +three-quarters of an hour before the police discovered Mr. +Compton’s body, did you not?”</p> +<p>Murray started to deny that he had done so. Jimmy’s +attorney stopped him. “Just a moment, Mr. Murray,” he +said, “if you will stop a moment and give the matter careful +thought I am sure you will recall that you telephoned Mr. Torrance +at that time, and that you did it in the presence of a +witness,” and the attorney pointed toward the back of the +court-room. Murray looked in the direction that the other indicated +and again he paled and his hand trembled where it rested on the arm +of his chair, for seated in the back of the courtroom was the +head-waiter from Feinheimer’s. “Now do you +recall?” asked the attorney.</p> +<p>Murray was silent for a moment. Suddenly he half rose from his +chair. “Yes I remember it,” he said. “They are +all trying to double-cross me. I had nothing to do with killing +Compton. That wasn’t in the deal at all. Ask that man there; +he will tell you that I had nothing to do with killing Compton. He +hired me and he knows,” and with shaking finger Murray +pointed at Mr. Harold Bince where he sat with his wife beside the +prosecuting attorney.</p> +<h3><a id="Ch_XXVIII" name="Ch_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h3> +<h2>THE VERDICT.</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>For a moment there was tense silence in the court-room which was +broken by the defense’s perfunctory “Take the +witness” to the prosecuting attorney, but again +cross-examination was waived.</p> +<p>“Call the next witness, please,” and a moment later +the Lizard emerged from the witness-room.</p> +<p>“I wish you would tell the jury,” said the counsel +for defense after the witness had been sworn, “just what you +told me in my office yesterday afternoon.”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir,” said the Lizard. “You see, it was +like this: Murray there sent for me and tells me that he’s +got a job for me. He wants me to go and crack a safe at the +International Machine Company’s plant. He said there was a +fellow on the inside helping him, that there wouldn’t be any +watchman there that night and that in the safe I was to crack was +some books and papers that was to be destroyed, and on top of it +was three or four thousand dollars in pay-roll money that I was to +have as my pay for the job. Murray told me that the guy on the +inside who wanted the job done had been working some kind of a +pay-roll graft and he wanted the records destroyed, and he also +wanted to get rid of the guy that was hep to what he had been +doin’. All that I had to do with it was go and crack the safe +and get the records, which I was to throw in the river, and keep +the money for myself, but the frame-up on the other guy was to send +him a phony message that would get him at the plant after I got +through, and then notify the police so they could catch him there +in the room with the cracked safe.</p> +<p>“I didn’t know who they were framin’ this job +on. If I had I wouldn’t have had nothin’ to do with +it.</p> +<p>“Well, I goes to the plant and finds a window in the +basement open just as they tells me it will be, but when I gets on +the first floor just before I go up-stairs to the office, which is +on the second floor, I heard some one walking around up-stairs. I +hid in the hallway while he came down. He stopped at the front door +and lighted a cigarette and then he went on out, and I went +up-stairs to finish the job.</p> +<p>“When I gets in Compton’s office where the safe is I +flashes my light and the first thing I sees is Compton’s body +on the floor beside his desk. That kind of stuff ain’t in my +line, so I beats it out without crackin’ the safe. +That’s all I know about it until I sees the papers, and then +for a while I was afraid to say anything because this guy +O’Donnell has it in for me, and I know enough about police +methods to know that they could frame up a good case of murder +against me. But after a while Miss Hudson finds me and puts it up +to me straight that this guy Torrance hasn’t got no friends +except me and her.</p> +<p>“Of course she didn’t know how much I knew, but I +did, and it’s been worryin’ me ever since. I was +waiting, though, hopin’ that something would turn up so that +he would be acquitted, but I been watchin’ the papers close, +and I seen yesterday that there wasn’t much chance, so here I +am.”</p> +<p>“You say that a man came down from Mr. Compton’s +office just before you went up? What time was that?”</p> +<p>“It was about ten o’clock, about half an hour before +the cops finds Torrance there.”</p> +<p>“And then you went upstairs and found Mr. Compton +dead?”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> +<p>“You say this man that came +downstairs stopped and lighted a cigarette before he left the +building. Did you see his face?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I did.”</p> +<p>“Would you recognize him if you saw him again?”</p> +<p>“Sure.”</p> +<p>“Look around the court-room and see if you can find him +here.”</p> +<p>“Sure I can find him. I seen him when I first came in, but +I can’t see his face because he’s hiding behind the +prosecuting attorney.”</p> +<p>All eyes were turned in the direction of the prosecuting +attorney to see Bince leap suddenly to his feet and lean forward +upon the desk before him, supported by a trembling arm as he shook +his finger at the Lizard, and in high-pitched tones screamed, +“It’s a lie! It’s a lie!”</p> +<p>For a moment longer he stood looking wildly about the room, and +then with rapid strides he crossed it to an open window, and before +any one could interfere he vaulted out, to fall four stories to the +cement sidewalk below.</p> +<p>For several minutes pandemonium reigned in the court-room. +Elizabeth Compton Bince swooned, and when she regained +consciousness she found herself in the arms of Harriet Holden.</p> +<p>“Take me home, Harriet,” she asked; “take me +away from this place. Take me to your home. I do not want to go +back to mine yet.”</p> +<p>Half an hour later, in accordance with the judge’s charge +to the jury, a verdict of “Not guilty” was rendered in +the case of the People of Illinois versus James Torrance, Jr.</p> +<p>Mr. +Holden and Jimmy’s attorney were the first to congratulate +him, and the former insisted that he come home with him to +dinner.</p> +<p>“I am sorry,” said Jimmy; “I should like to +immensely, but there is some one I must see first. If I may I +should like to come out later in the evening to thank you and Miss +Holden.”</p> +<p>Jimmy searched about the court-room until he found the Lizard. +“I don’t know how to thank you,” he said.</p> +<p>“Don’t then,” said the Lizard. “Who you +ought to thank is that little girl who is sick in bed up on the +north side.”</p> +<p>“That’s just where I am going now,” said +Jimmy. “Is she very sick?”</p> +<p>“Pneumonia,” said the Lizard. “I telephoned +her doctor just before I came over here, and I guess if you want to +see her at all you’d better hurry.”</p> +<p>“It’s not that had, is it?” Jimmy said.</p> +<p>“I’m afraid it is,” said the Lizard.</p> +<p>Jimmy lost no time in reaching the street and calling a taxi. A +nurse admitted him to the apartment. “How is she?” he +asked.</p> +<p>The nurse shook her head.</p> +<p>“Can she see any one?”</p> +<p>“It won’t make any difference now,” said the +nurse, and Jimmy was led into the room where the girl, wasted by +fever and suffering, lay in a half-comatose condition upon her +narrow bed. Jimmy crossed the room and laid his hand upon her +forehead and at the touch she opened her eyes and looked up at him. +He saw that she recognized him and was trying to say something, and +he kneeled beside the bed so that his ear might be closer to her +lips.</p> +<p>“Jimmy,” she whispered, “you are free? Tell +me.”</p> +<p>He told her briefly of what had happened. “I am so +happy,” she murmured. “Oh, Jimmy, I am so +happy!”</p> +<p>He took one of her wasted hands in his own and carried it to his +lips. “Not on the hand,” she said faintly. “Just +once, on the lips, before I die.”</p> +<p>He gathered her in his arms and lifted her face to his. +“Dear little girl,” he said, “you are not going +to die. It is not as bad as that.”</p> +<p>She did not reply, but only clung to him tightly, and against +his cheek he felt her tears and a little choking sob before she +relaxed, and he laid her back again on her pillow. He thought she +was dead then and he called the nurse, but she still breathed, +though her eyes were closed. Jimmy sat down on the edge of the bed +beside her and stroked her hand. After a while she roused again and +opened her eyes.</p> +<p>“Jimmy,” she said, “will you stay with me +until I go?” The man could make no articulate response, but +he pressed her hand reassuringly. She was silent again for some +time. Once more she whispered faintly, so faintly that he had to +lean close to catch her words:</p> +<p>“Miss Holden,” she whispered, “she is +a—good girl. It is—she—who hired—the +attorney for you. Go to her—Jimmy—when I—am +gone—she loves—you.” Again there was a long +pause.</p> +<p>“Good-by—Jimmy,” she whispered at +last.</p> +<p>The nurse was standing at the foot of the bed. She came and put +her hand on Jimmy’s shoulder. “It is too bad,” +she said; “she was such a good girl.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Jimmy, “I think she was the best +little girl I ever knew.”</p> +<p>It was after nine o’clock when Jimmy, depressed and +sorrowing, arrived at the Holden home. The houseman who admitted +him told him that Mr. Holden had been called out, but that Miss +Holden was expecting him, and he ushered Jimmy to the big +living-room, and to his consternation he saw that Elizabeth Compton +was there with Harriet. The latter came forward to greet him, and +to his surprise the other girl followed her.</p> +<p>“I discovered to-day, Mr. Torrance,” she said, +“that I have wronged you. However unintentionally it was the +fact remains that I might have done you a very great harm and +injustice. I realize now how very different things might have been +if I had listened to you and believed in you at first. Harriet told +me that you were coming tonight and I asked to see you for just a +moment to tell you this and also to ask you if you would continue +with the International Machine Company.</p> +<p>“There is no one now whom I feel I would have so much +confidence in as you. I wish you would come back and take charge +for me. If you will tell me that you will consider it we will +arrange the details later.”</p> +<p>If an archangel had suddenly condescended to honor him with an +invitation to assist in the management of Heaven Jimmy could not +have been more surprised. He realized at what cost of pride and +self-esteem the offer must have been made and acknowledgment of +error. He told her that he would be very glad to assist her for the +present, at least, and then she excused herself on the plea of +nervous exhaustion and went to her room.</p> +<p>“Do you know,” said Harriet, after Elizabeth had +gone, “she really feels worse over her past attitude toward +you than she does over Harold’s death? I think she realizes +now what I have told her from the first, that she never really +loved him. Of course, her pride has suffered terribly, but she will +get over that quickly enough.</p> +<p>“But do you know I have not had an opportunity before to +congratulate you? I wish that I might have been there to have heard +the verdict, but really you don’t look half as happy as I +should think you would feel.”</p> +<p>“I am happy about that,” said Jimmy, “but on +top of my happiness came a sorrow. I just came from Edith’s +apartment. She died while I was there.”</p> +<p>Harriet gave a little cry of shocked surprise. “Oh, +Jimmy,” she cried, laying her hand upon his arm. “Oh, +Jimmy, I am so sorry!” It was the first time that she had +ever addressed him by his given name, but there seemed nothing +strange or unusual in the occurrence.</p> +<p>“She was such a good little girl,” said Harriet.</p> +<p>It was strange that so many should use these same words in +connection with Edith Hudson, and even this girl, so far removed +from the sphere in which Little Eva had existed and who knew +something of her past, could yet call her “good.”</p> +<p>It gave Jimmy a new insight into the sweetness and charity of +Harriet Holden’s character. “Yes,” he said, +“her soul and her heart were good and pure.”</p> +<p>“She believed so in you,” said the girl. “She +thought you were the best man who ever lived. She told me that you +were the only really good man she had ever known, and her +confidence and belief in you were contagious. You will probably +never know all that she did for you. It was really she that imbued +my father and his attorney with a belief in your innocence, and it +was she who influenced the Lizard to take the stand in your behalf. +Yes, she was a very good friend.”</p> +<p>“And you have been a good friend,” said Jimmy. +“In the face of the same circumstances that turned Miss +Compton against me you believed in me. Your generosity made it +possible for me to be defended by the best attorney in Chicago, but +more than all that to me has been your friendship and the +consciousness of your sympathy at a time when, above all things, I +needed sympathy. And now, after all you have done for me I came to +ask still more of you.”</p> +<p>“What do you want?” she asked.</p> +<p>She was standing very close to him, looking up in his face.</p> +<p>“You, Harriet,” he said.</p> +<p>She smiled tremulously. “I have been yours for a long +time, Jimmy, but you didn’t know it.”</p> +<hr class="full" /> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Efficiency Expert, by Edgar Rice Burroughs + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EFFICIENCY EXPERT *** + +***** This file should be named 3475-h.htm or 3475-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/7/3475/ + +Produced by Fred M. Adams (fsadams@magma.cs) + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/3475.txt b/3475.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..41a4194 --- /dev/null +++ b/3475.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6500 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Efficiency Expert, by Edgar Rice Burroughs + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + + +Title: The Efficiency Expert + +Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs + +Posting Date: May 6, 2012 [EBook #3475] +Release Date: October, 2002 [Etext #3475] +[The actual date this file first posted = 10/30/01] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EFFICIENCY EXPERT *** + + + + +Produced by Fred M. Adams (fsadams@magma.cs) + + + + + + + +THE EFFICIENCY EXPERT + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +JIMMY TORRANCE, JR. + +The gymnasium was packed as Jimmy Torrance stepped into the ring for the +final event of the evening that was to decide the boxing championship of +the university. Drawing to a close were the nearly four years of his +college career--profitable years, Jimmy considered them, and certainly +successful up to this point. In the beginning of his senior year he had +captained the varsity eleven, and in the coming spring he would again +sally forth upon the diamond as the star initial sacker of collegedom. + +His football triumphs were in the past, his continued baseball successes +a foregone conclusion--if he won to-night his cup of happiness, and an +unassailably dominant position among his fellows, would be assured, +leaving nothing more, in so far as Jimmy reasoned, to be desired from +four years attendance at one of America's oldest and most famous +universities. + +The youth who would dispute the right to championship honors with Jimmy +was a dark horse to the extent that he was a freshman, and, therefore, +practically unknown. He had worked hard, however, and given a good +account of himself in his preparations for the battle, and there were +rumors, as there always are about every campus, of marvelous exploits +prior to his college days. It was even darkly hinted that he was a +professional pugilist. As a matter of fact, he was the best exponent of +the manly art of self-defense that Jimmy Torrance had ever faced, and in +addition thereto he outweighed the senior and outreached him. + +The boxing contest, as the faculty members of the athletic committee +preferred to call it, was, from the tap of the gong, as pretty a +two-fisted scrap as ever any aggregation of low-browed fight fans +witnessed. The details of this gory contest, while interesting, have no +particular bearing upon the development of this tale. What interests us +is the outcome, which occurred in the middle of a very bloody fourth +round, in which Jimmy Torrance scored a clean knock-out. + +It was a battered but happy Jimmy who sat in his room the following +Monday afternoon, striving to concentrate his mind upon a college +text-book which should, by all the laws of fiction, have been 'well +thumbed,' but in reality, possessed unruffled freshness which belied its +real age. + +"I wish," mused Jimmy, "that I could have got to the bird who invented +mathematics before he inflicted all this unnecessary anguish upon an +already unhappy world. In about three rounds I could have saved +thousands from the sorrow which I feel every time I open this blooming +book." + +He was still deeply engrossed in the futile attempt of accomplishing in +an hour that for which the college curriculum set aside several months +when there came sounds of approaching footsteps rapidly ascending the +stairway. His door was unceremoniously thrown open, and there appeared +one of those strange apparitions which is the envy and despair of the +small-town youth--a naturally good-looking young fellow, the sartorial +arts of whose tailor had elevated his waist-line to his arm-pits, +dragged down his shoulders, and caved in his front until he had the +appearance of being badly dished from chin to knees. His trousers +appeared to have been made for a man with legs six inches longer than +his, while his hat was evidently several sizes too large, since it would +have entirely extinguished his face had it not been supported by his +ears. + +"Hello, Kid!" cried Jimmy. "What's new?" + +"Whiskers wants you," replied the other. "Faculty meeting. They just +got through with me." + +"Hell!" muttered Jimmy feelingly. "I don't know what Whiskers wants +with me, but he never wants to see anybody about anything pleasant." + +"I am here," agreed the other, "to announce to the universe that you are +right, Jimmy. He didn't have anything pleasant to say to me. In fact, he +insinuated that dear old alma mater might be able to wiggle along +without me if I didn't abjure my criminal life. Made some nasty +comparison between my academic achievements and foxtrotting. I wonder, +Jimmy, how they get that way?" + +"That's why they are profs," explained Jimmy. "There are two kinds of +people in this world--human beings and profs. When does he want me?" + +"Now." + +Jimmy arose and put on his hat and coat. "Good-by, Kid," he said. +"Pray for me, and leave me one cigarette to smoke when I get back," +and, grinning, he left the room. + +James Torrance, Jr., was not greatly abashed as he faced the dour +tribunal of the faculty. The younger members, among whom were several he +knew to be mighty good fellows at heart, sat at the lower end of the +long table, and with owlish gravity attempted to emulate the appearance +and manners of their seniors. At the head of the table sat Whiskers, as +the dignified and venerable president of the university was popularly +named. It was generally believed and solemnly sworn to throughout the +large corps of undergraduates that within the knowledge of any living +man Whiskers had never been known to smile, and to-day he was running +true to form. + +"Mr. Torrance," he said, sighing, "it has been my painful duty on more +than one occasion to call your attention to the uniformly low average of +your academic standing. At the earnest solicitation of the faculty +members of the athletic committee, I have been influenced, against my +better judgment, to temporize with an utterly insufferable condition. + +"You are rapidly approaching the close of your senior year, and in the +light of the records which I have before me I am constrained to believe +that it will be utterly impossible for you to graduate, unless from now +to the end of the semester you devote yourself exclusively to your +academic work. If you cannot assure me that you will do this, I believe +it would be to the best interests of the university for you to resign +now, rather than to fail of graduation. And in this decision I am fully +seconded by the faculty members of the athletic committee, who realize +the harmful effect upon university athletics in the future were so +prominent an athlete as you to fail at graduation." + +If they had sentenced Jimmy to be shot at sunrise the blow could +scarcely have been more stunning than that which followed the +realization that he was not to be permitted to round out his fourth +successful season at first base. But if Jimmy was momentarily stunned he +gave no outward indication of the fact, and in the brief interval of +silence following the president's ultimatum his alert mind functioned +with the rapidity which it had often shown upon the gridiron, the +diamond, and the squared circle. + +Just for a moment the thought of being deprived of the pleasure and +excitement of the coming baseball season filled his mind to the +exclusion of every other consideration, but presently a less selfish +impulse projected upon the screen of recollection the figure of the +father he idolized. The boy realized the disappointment that this man +would feel should his four years of college end thus disastrously and +without the coveted diploma. + +And then it was that he raised his eyes to those of the president. + +"I hope, sir," he said, "that you will give me one more chance--that you +will let me go on as I have in the past as far as baseball is concerned, +with the understanding that if at the end of each month between now and +commencement I do not show satisfactory improvement I shall not be +permitted to play on the team. But please don't make that restriction +binding yet. If I lay off the track work I believe I can make up enough +so that baseball will not interfere with my graduation." + +And so Whiskers, who was much more human than the student body gave him +credit for being, and was, in the bargain, a good judge of boys, gave +Jimmy another chance on his own terms, and the university's heavyweight +champion returned to his room filled with determination to make good at +the eleventh hour. + +Possibly one of the greatest obstacles which lay in Jimmy's path toward +academic honors was the fact that he possessed those qualities of +character which attracted others to him, with the result that there was +seldom an hour during the day that he had his room to himself. On his +return from the faculty meeting he found a half-dozen of his classmates +there, awaiting his return. + +"Well?" they inquired as he entered. + +"It's worse than that," said Jimmy, as he unfolded the harrowing details +of what had transpired at his meeting with the faculty. "And now," he +said, "if you birds love me, keep out of here from now until +commencement. There isn't a guy on earth can concentrate on anything +with a roomful of you mental ciphers sitting around and yapping about +girls and other non-essential creations." + +"Non-essential!" gasped one of his visitors, letting his eyes wander +over the walls of Jimmy's study, whereon were nailed, pinned or hung +countless framed and unframed pictures of non-essential creations. + +"All right, Jimmy," said another. "We are with you, horse, foot and +artillery. When you want us, give us the high-sign and we will come. +Otherwise we will leave you to your beloved books. It is too bad, +though, as the bar-boy was just explaining how the great drought might +be circumvented by means of carrots, potato peelings, dish-water, and a +raisin." + +"Go on," said Jimmy; "I am not interested," and the boys left him to his +"beloved" books. + +Jimmy Torrance worked hard, and by dint of long hours and hard-working +tutors he finished his college course and won his diploma. Nor did he +have to forego the crowning honors of his last baseball season, +although, like Ulysses S. Grant, he would have graduated at the head of +his class had the list been turned upside down. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +JIMMY WILL ACCEPT A POSITION. + +Following his graduation he went to New York to visit with one of his +classmates for a short time before returning home. He was a very +self-satisfied Jimmy, nor who can wonder, since almost from his +matriculation there had been constantly dinned into his ears the +plaudits of his fellow students. Jimmy Torrance had been the one big +outstanding feature of each succeeding class from his freshman to his +senior year, and as a junior and senior he had been the acknowledged +leader of the student body and as popular a man as the university had +ever known. + +To his fellows, as well as to himself, he had been a great success--the +success of the university--and he and they saw in the future only +continued success in whatever vocation he decided to honor with his +presence. It was in a mental attitude that had become almost habitual +with him, and which was superinduced by these influences, that Jimmy +approached the new life that was opening before him. For a while he +would play, but in the fall it was his firm intention to settle down to +some serious occupation, and it was in this attitude that he opened a +letter from his father--the first that he had received since his +graduation. + +The letter was written on the letterhead of the Beatrice Corn Mills, +Incorporated, Beatrice, Nebraska, and in the upper left-hand corner, in +small type, appeared "James Torrance, Sr., President and General +Manager," and this is what he read: + + + Dear Jim + + You have graduated--I didn't think you would--with honors in + football, baseball, prize-fighting, and five thousand + dollars in debt. How you got your diploma is beyond me--in + my day you would have got the sack. Well, son, I am not + surprised nor disappointed--it is what I expected. I know + you are clean, though, and that some day you will awaken to + the sterner side of life and an appreciation of your + responsibilities. + + To be an entirely orthodox father I should raise merry hell + about your debts and utter inutility, at the same time + disinheriting you, but instead I am going to urge you to + come home and run in debt here where the cost of living is + not so high as in the East--meanwhile praying that your + awakening may come while I am on earth to rejoice. + + Your affectionate + FATHER, + + Am enclosing check to cover your debts and present needs. + + +For a long time the boy sat looking at the letter before him. He reread +it once, twice, three times, and with each reading the film of +unconscious egotism that had blinded him to his own shortcomings +gradually became less opaque, until finally he saw himself as his father +must see him. He had come to college for the purpose of fitting himself +to succeed in some particular way in the stern battle of life which +must follow his graduation; for, though his father had ample means to +support him in indolence, Jimmy had never even momentarily considered +such an eventuality. + +In weighing his assets now he discovered that he had probably as +excellent a conception of gridiron strategy and tactics as any man in +America; that as a boxer he occupied a position in the forefront of +amateur ranks; and he was quite positive that out-side of the major +leagues there was not a better first baseman. + +But in the last few minutes there had dawned upon him the realization +that none of these accomplishments was greatly in demand in the business +world. Jimmy spent a very blue and unhappy hour, and then slowly his +natural optimism reasserted itself, and with it came the realization of +his youth and strength and inherent ability, which, without egotism, he +might claim. + +"And then, too," he mused, "I have my diploma. I am a college graduate, +and that must mean something. If dad had only reproached me or +threatened some condign punishment I don't believe I should feel half as +badly as I do. But every line of that letter breathes disappointment in +me; and yet, God bless him, he tells me to come home and spend his money +there. Not on your life! If he won't disinherit me, I am going to +disinherit myself. I am going to make him proud of me. He's the best dad +a fellow ever had, and I am going to show him that I appreciate him." + +And so he sat down and wrote his father this reply: + + + DEAR DAD: + + I have your letter and check. You may not believe it, but + the former is worth more to me than the latter. Not, + however, that I spurn the check, which it was just like you + to send without a lot of grumbling and reproaches, even if I + do deserve them. + + Your letter shows me what a rotten mess I have made of + myself. I'm not going to hand you a lot of mush, dad, but I + want to try to do something that will give you reason to at + least have hopes of rejoicing before I come home again. If I + fail I'll come home anyway, and then neither one of us will + have any doubt but what you will have to support me for the + rest of my life. However, I don't intend to fail, and one of + these days I will bob up all serene as president of a bank + or a glue factory. In the mean time I'll keep you posted as + to my whereabouts, but don't send me another cent until I + ask for it; and when I do you will know that I have failed. + + Tell mother that I will write her in a day or two, probably + from Chicago, as I have always had an idea that that was one + burg where I could make good. + + With lots of love to you all, + + Your affectionate + SON. + +It was a hot July day that James Torrance, Jr., alighted from the +Twentieth Century Limited at the La Salle Street Station, and, entering +a cab, directed that he be driven to a small hotel; "for," he +soliloquized, "I might as well start economizing at once, as it might be +several days before I land a job such as I want," in voicing which +sentiments he spoke with the tongues of the prophets. + +Jimmy had many friends in Chicago with whom, upon the occasion of +numerous previous visits to the Western metropolis, he had spent many +hilarious and expensive hours, but now he had come upon the serious +business of life, and there moved within him a strong determination to +win financial success without recourse to the influence of rich and +powerful acquaintances. + +Since the first crushing blow that his father's letter had dealt his +egotism, Jimmy's self-esteem had been gradually returning, though along +new and more practical lines. His self-assurance was formed in a similar +mold to those of all his other salient characteristics, and these +conformed to his physical proportions, for physically, mentally and +morally Jimmy Torrance was big; not that he was noticeably taller than +other men or his features more than ordinarily attractive, but there was +something so well balanced and harmonious in all the proportions of his +frame and features as to almost invariably compel a second glance from +even a casual observer, especially if the casual observer happened to be +in the nonessential creation class. + +And so Jimmy, having had plenty of opportunity to commune with himself +during the journey from New York, was confident that there were many +opportunities awaiting him in Chicago. He remembered distinctly of +having read somewhere that the growing need of big business concerns was +competent executive material--that there were fewer big men than there +were big jobs--and that if such was the case all that remained to be +done was to connect himself with the particular big job that suited him. + +In the lobby of the hotel he bought several of the daily papers, and +after reaching his room he started perusing the "Help Wanted" columns. +Immediately he was impressed and elated by the discovery that there were +plenty of jobs, and that a satisfactory percentage of them appeared to +be big jobs. There were so many, however, that appealed to him as +excellent possibilities that he saw it would be impossible to apply for +each and every one; and then it occurred to him that he might occupy a +more strategic position in the negotiations preceding his acceptance of +a position if his future employer came to him first, rather than should +he be the one to apply for the position. + +And so he decided the wisest plan would be to insert an ad in the +"Situations Wanted" column, and then from the replies select those +which most appealed to him; in other words, he would choose from the +cream of those who desired the services of such a man as himself rather +than risk the chance of obtaining a less profitable position through +undue haste in seizing upon the first opening advertised. + +Having reached this decision, and following his habitual custom, he +permitted no grass to grow beneath his feet. Writing out an ad, he +reviewed it carefully, compared it with others that he saw upon the +printed page, made a few changes, rewrote it, and then descended to the +lobby, where he called a cab and was driven to the office of one of the +area's metropolitan morning newspapers. + +Jimmy felt very important as he passed through the massive doorway into +the great general offices of the newspaper. Of course, he didn't exactly +expect that he would be ushered into the presence of the president or +business manager, or that even the advertising manager would necessarily +have to pass upon his copy, but there was within him a certain sensation +that at that instant something was transpiring that in later years would +be a matter of great moment, and he was really very sorry for the +publishers of the newspaper that they did not know who it was who was +inserting an ad in their Situations Wanted column. + +He could not help but watch the face of the young man who received his +ad and counted the words, as he was sure that the clerk's facial +expression would betray his excitement. It was a great moment for Jimmy +Torrance. He realized that it was probably the greatest moment of his +life--that here Jimmy Torrance ceased to be, and James Torrance, Jr., +Esq., began his career. But though he carefully watched the face of the +clerk, he was finally forced to admit that the young man possessed +wonderful control over his facial expression. + +"That bird has a regular poker-face," mused Jimmy; "never batted an +eye," and paying for his ad he pocketed the change and walked out. + +"Let's see," he figured; "it will be in tomorrow morning's edition. The +tired business man will read it either at breakfast or after he reaches +his office. I understand that there are three million people here in +Chicago. Out of that three million it is safe to assume that one million +will read my advertisement, and of that one-million there must be at +least one thousand who have responsible positions which are, at present, +inadequately filled. + +"Of course, the truth of the matter is that there are probably tens of +thousands of such positions, but to be conservative I will assume that +there are only one thousand, and reducing it still further to almost an +absurdity, I will figure that only ten per cent of those reply to my +advertisement. In other words, at the lowest possible estimate I should +have one hundred replies on the first day. I knew it was foolish to run +it for three days, but the fellow insisted that that was the proper way +to do, as I got a lower rate. + +"By taking it for three days, however, it doesn't seem right to make so +many busy men waste their time answering the ad when I shall doubtless +find a satisfactory position the first day." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE LIZARD. + +That night Jimmy attended a show, and treated himself to a lonely dinner +afterward. He should have liked very much to have looked up some of his +friends. A telephone call would have brought invitations to dinner and a +pleasant evening with convivial companions, but he had mapped his course +and he was determined to stick to it to the end. + +"There will be plenty of time," he thought, "for amusement after I have +gotten a good grasp of my new duties." Jimmy elected to walk from the +theater to his hotel, and as he was turning the corner from Randolph +into La Salle a young man jostled him. An instant later the stranger was +upon his knees, his wrist doubled suddenly backward and very close to +the breaking-point. + +"Wot t' hell yuh doin'?" he screamed. + +"Pardon me," replied Jimmy: "you got your hand in the wrong pocket. I +suppose you meant to put it in your own, but you didn't." + +"Aw, g'wan; lemme go," pleaded the stranger. "I didn't get nuthin'-- +you ain't got the goods on me." + +Now, such a tableau as Jimmy and his new acquaintance formed cannot be +staged at the corner of Randolph and La Salle beneath an arc light, even +at midnight, without attracting attention. And so it was that before +Jimmy realized it a dozen curious pedestrians were approaching them from +different directions, and a burly blue-coated figure was shouldering his +way forward. + +Jimmy had permitted his captive to rise, but he still held tightly to +his wrist as the officer confronted them. He took one look at Jimmy's +companion, and then grabbed him roughly by the arm. "So, it's you again, +is it?" he growled. + +"I ain't done nuthin'," muttered the man. + +The officer looked inquiringly at Jimmy. + +"What's all the excitement about?" asked the latter. "My friend and I +have done nothing." + +"Your fri'nd and you?" replied the policeman. "He ain't no fri'nd o' +yours, or yez wouldn't be sayin' so." + +"Well, I'll admit," replied Jimmy, "that possibly I haven't known him +long enough to presume to claim any close friendship, but there's no +telling what time may develop." + +"You don't want him pinched?" asked the policeman. + +"Of course not," replied Jimmy. "Why should he be pinched?" + +The officer turned roughly upon the stranger, shook him viciously a few +times, and then gave him a mighty shove which all but sent him sprawling +into the gutter. + +"G'wan wid yez," he yelled after him, "and if I see ye on this beat +again I'll run yez in. An' you"--he turned upon Jimmy--"ye'd +betther be on your way--and not be afther makin' up with ivery dip ye +meet." + +"Thanks," said Jimmy. "Have a cigar." + +After the officer had helped himself and condescended to relax his stern +features into the semblance of a smile the young man bid him good night +and resumed his way toward the hotel. + +"Pretty early to go to bed," he thought as he reached for his watch to +note the time, running his fingers into an empty pocket. Gingerly he +felt in another pocket, where he knew his watch couldn't possibly be, +nor was. Carefully Jimmy examined each pocket of his coat and trousers, +a slow and broad grin illumining his face. + +"What do you know about that?" he mused. "And I thought I was a wise +guy." + +A few minutes after Jimmy reached his room the office called him on the +telephone to tell him that a man had called to see him. + +"Send him up," said Jimmy, wondering who it might be, since he was sure +that no one knew of his presence in the city. He tried to connect the +call in some way with his advertisement, but inasmuch as that had been +inserted blind he felt that there could be no possible connection +between that and his caller. + +A few minutes later there was a knock on his door, and in response to +his summons to enter the door opened, and there stood before him the +young man of his recent encounter upon the street. The latter entered +softly, closing the door behind him. His feet made no sound upon the +carpet, and no sound came from the door as he closed it, nor any +slightest click from the latch. His utter silence and the stealth of his +movements were so pronounced as to attract immediate attention. He did +not speak until he had reached the center of the room and halted on the +opposite side of the table at which Jimmy was standing; and then a very +slow smile moved his lips, though the expression of his eyes remained +unchanged. + +"Miss anything?" he asked. + +"Yes," said Jimmy. + +"Here it is," said the visitor, laying the other's watch upon the table. + +"Why this spasm of virtue?" asked Jimmy. + +"Oh, I don't know," replied the other. "I guess it's because you're a +white guy. O'Donnell has been trying to get something on me for the last +year. He's got it in for me--I wouldn't cough every time the big stiff +seen me." + +"Sit down," said Jimmy. + +"Naw," said the other; "I gotta be goin'." + +"Come," insisted the host; "sit down for a few minutes at least. I was +just wishing that I had someone to talk to." + +The other sank noiselessly into a chair. "All right, bo," he said. + +Jimmy proffered him his cigar-case. + +"No, thanks," declined the visitor. "I'd rather have a coffin-nail," +which Jimmy forthwith furnished. + +"I should think," said Jimmy, "that your particular line of endeavor +would prove rather hazardous in a place where you are known by the +police." + +The other smiled and, as before, with his lips alone. + +"Naw," he said; "this is the safest place to work. If ten per cent of +the bulls know me I got that much on them, and then some, because any +boob can spot any one o' de harness bunch, and I know nearly every fly +on the department. They're the guys yuh gotta know, and usually I know +something besides their names, too," and again his lips smiled. + +"How much of your time do you have to put in at your occupation to make +a living?" asked Jimmy. + +"Sometimes I put in six or eight hours a day," replied the visitor. "De +rush hours on de surface line are usually good for two or t'ree hours a +day, but I been layin' off dat stuff lately and goin' in fer de t'ater +crowd. Dere's more money and shorter hours." + +"You confine yourself," asked Jimmy, "to--er--ah--pocket-picking +solely?" + +Again the lip smile. "I'll tell youse sumpin', bo, dat dey don't none o' +dem big stiffs on de department know. De dip game is a stall. I learned +it when I was a kid, an' dese yaps t'ink dat's all I know, and I keep +dem t'inkin' it by pullin' stuff under der noses often enough to give +'em de hunch dat I'm still at de same ol' business." He leaned +confidentially across the table. "If you ever want a box cracked, look +up the Lizard." + +"Meaning?" asked Jimmy. + +"Me, bo, I'm the Lizard." + +"Box cracked?" repeated Jimmy. "An ice-box or a hot box?" + +His visitor grinned. "Safe," he explained. + +"Oh," said Jimmy, "if I ever want any one to break into a safe, come to +you, huh?" + +"You get me," replied the other. + +"All right," said Jimmy, laughing, "I'll call on you. That the only +name you got, Mr. Lizard?" + +"That's all--just the Lizard. Now I gotta be beatin' it." + +"Goin' to crack a box?" asked Jimmy. + +The other smiled his lip smile and turned toward the door. + +"Wait a second," said Jimmy. "What would you have gotten on this watch +of mine?" + +"It would have stood me about twenty bucks." + +Jimmy reached into his pocket and drew forth a roll of bills. "Here," +he said, handing the other two tens. + +"Naw," said the Lizard, shoving the proffered money away. "I'm no cheap +skate." + +"Come on--take it," said Jimmy. "I may want a box cracked some day." + +"All right," said the Lizard, "if you put it that way, bo." + +"I should think," said Jimmy, "that a man of your ability could earn a +living by less precarious methods." + +"You would think so," replied the Lizard. "I've tried two or three +times to go straight. Wore out my shoes looking for a job. Never landed +anything that paid me more than ten bucks per, and worked nine or ten +hours a day, and half the time I couldn't get that." + +"I suppose the police hounded you all the time, too," suggested Jimmy. + +"Naw," said the Lizard; "dat's all bunk. De fellows that couldn't even +float down a sewer straight pull dat. Once in a while dey get it in for +some guy, but dey're glad enough to leave us alone if we leave dem +alone. I worked four hours to-day, maybe six before I get through, and +I'll stand a chance of makin' all the way from fifty dollars to five +thousand. Suppose I was drivin' a milk-wagon, gettin' up at t'ree +o'clock in the mornin' and workin' like hell--how much would I get out +of dat? Expectin' every minute some one was goin' tuh fire me. Nuthin' +doin'--dey can't nobody fire me now. I'm my own boss." + +"Well," said Jimmy, "your logic sounds all right, but it all depends +upon the viewpoint. But I'll tell you: you've offered me your services; +I'll offer you mine. Whenever you want a job, look me up. I'm going to +be general manager of a big concern here, and you'll find me in the next +issue of the telephone directory." He handed the Lizard his card. + +"Tanks," said the latter. "If you don't want a box cracked any sooner +than I want a job, the chances are we will never meet again. So-long," +and he was gone as noiselessly as he had come. + +Jimmy breakfasted at nine the next morning, and as he waited for his +bacon and eggs he searched the Situations Wanted columns of the morning +paper until his eye finally alighted upon that for which he sought--the +ad that was to infuse into the business life of the great city a new and +potent force. Before his breakfast was served Jimmy had read the few +lines over a dozen times, and with each succeeding reading he was more +and more pleased with the result of his advertising ability as it +appeared in print. + + + WANTED--By College Graduate--Position as + General Manager of Large Business where ability, + energy and experience will be appreciated. + Address 263-S, Tribune Office. + +He had decided to wait until after lunch before calling at the newspaper +office for replies to his advertisement, but during breakfast it +occurred to him there probably would be several alert prospective +employers who would despatch their replies by special messengers, and +realizing that promptness was one of the cardinal virtues in the +business world, Jimmy reasoned that it would make a favorable impression +were he to present himself as soon as possible after the receipt of +replies. + +By a simple system of reasoning he deduced that ten o'clock would be +none too early to expect some returns from his ad, and therefore at ten +promptly he presented himself at the Want Ad Department in the Tribune +office. + +Comparing the number of the receipt which Jimmy handed him with the +numbers upon a file of little pigeonholes, the clerk presently turned +back toward the counter with a handful of letters. + +"Whew!" thought Jimmy. "I never would have guessed that I would receive +a bunch like that so early in the morning." But then, as he saw the +clerk running through them one by one, he realized that they were not +all for him, and as the young man ran through them Jimmy's spirits +dropped a notch with each letter that was passed over without being +thrown out to him, until, when the last letter had passed beneath the +scrutiny of the clerk, and the advertiser realized that he had received +no replies, he was quite sure that there was some error. + +"Nothing," said the clerk, shaking his head negatively. + +"Are you sure you looked in the right compartment?" asked Jimmy. + +"Sure," replied the clerk. "There is nothing for you." + +Jimmy pocketed his slip and walked from the office. "This town is +slower than I thought it was," he mused. "'I guess they do need some +live wires here to manage their business." + +At noon he returned, only to be again disappointed, and then at two +o'clock, and when he came in at four the same clerk looked up wearily +and shook his head. + +"Nothing for you," he said. "I distributed all the stuff myself since +you were in last." + +As Jimmy stood there almost dazed by surprise that during an entire day +his ad had appeared in Chicago's largest newspaper, and he had not +received one reply, a man approached the counter, passed a slip similar +to Jimmy's to the clerk, and received fully a hundred letters in return. +Jimmy was positive now that something was wrong. + +"Are you sure," he asked the clerk, "that my replies haven't been +sidetracked somewhere? I have seen people taking letters away from here +all day, and that bird there just walked off with a fistful." + +The clerk grinned. "What you advertising for?" he asked. + +"A position," replied Jimmy. + +"That's the answer," explained the clerk. "That fellow there was +advertising for help." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +JIMMY HUNTS A JOB. + +Once again Jimmy walked out onto Madison Street, and, turning to his +right, dropped into a continuous vaudeville show in an attempt to coax +his spirits back to somewhere near their normal high-water mark. Upon +the next day he again haunted the newspaper office without reward, and +again upon the third day with similar results. To say that Jimmy was +dumfounded would be but a futile description of his mental state. It was +simply beyond him to conceive that in one of the largest cities in the +world, the center of a thriving district of fifty million souls, there +was no business man with sufficient acumen to realize how badly he +needed James Torrance, Jr., to conduct his business for him +successfully. + +With the close of the fourth day, and no reply, Jimmy was thoroughly +exasperated. The kindly clerk, who by this time had taken a personal +interest in this steadiest of customers, suggested that Jimmy try +applying for positions advertised in the Help Wanted column, and this he +decided to do. + +There were only two concerns advertising for general managers in the +issue which Jimmy scanned; one ad called for an experienced executive to +assume the general management of an old established sash, door and blind +factory; the other insisted upon a man with mail-order experience to +take charge of the mail-order department of a large department store. + +Neither of these were precisely what Jimmy had hoped for, his preference +really being for the general management of an automobile manufactory or +possibly something in the airplane line. Sash, door and blind sounded +extremely prosaic and uninteresting to Mr. Torrance. The mail-order +proposition, while possibly more interesting, struck him as being too +trifling and unimportant. + +"However," he thought, "it will do no harm to have a talk with these +people, and possibly I might even consider giving one of them a trial." + +And so, calling a taxi, he drove out onto the west side where, in a +dingy and squalid neighborhood, the taxi stopped in front of a grimy +unpainted three-story brick building, from which a great deal of noise +and dust were issuing. Jimmy found the office on the second floor, after +ascending a narrow, dark, and dirty stairway. Jimmy's experience of +manufacturing plants was extremely limited, but he needed no experience +as he entered the room to see that he was in a busy office of a busy +plant. Everything about the office was plain and rather dingy, but there +were a great many file clerks and typists and considerable bustling +about. + +After stating his business to a young lady who sat behind a switchboard, +upon the front of which was the word "Information," and waiting while +she communicated with an inner office over the telephone, he was +directed in the direction of a glass partition at the opposite end of +the room--a partition in which there were doors at intervals, and upon +each door a name. + +He had been told that Mr. Brown would see him, and rapping upon the door +bearing that name he was bid to enter, and a moment later found himself +in the presence of a middle-aged man whose every gesture and movement +was charged with suppressed nerve energy. + +As Jimmy entered the man was reading a letter. He finished it quickly, +slapped it into a tray, and wheeled in his chair toward his caller. + +"Well?" he snapped, as Jimmy approached him. + +"I came in reply to your advertisement for a general manager," announced +Jimmy confidently. + +The man sized him up quickly from head to foot. His eyes narrowed and +his brows contracted. + +"What experience you had? Who you been with, and how many years?" He +snapped the questions at Jimmy with the rapidity of machine-gun fire. + +"I have the necessary ability," replied Jimmy, "to manage your +business." + +"How many years have you had in the sash, door and blind business?" +snapped Mr. Brown. + +"I have never had any experience in the sash, door and blind business," +replied Jimmy. "I didn't come here to make sash, doors and blinds. I +came here to manage your business." + +Mr. Brown half rose from his chair. His eyes opened a little wider than +normal. "What the--" he started; and then, "Well, of all the--" Once +again he found it impossible to go on. "You came here to manage a sash, +door and blind factory, and don't know anything about the business! +Well, of all--" + +"I assumed," said Jimmy, "that what you wanted in a general manager was +executive ability, and that's what I have." + +"What you have," replied Mr. Brown, "is a hell of a crust. Now, run +along, young fellow. I am a very busy man--and don't forget to close +the door after you as you go out." + +Jimmy did not forget to close the door. As he walked the length of the +interminable room between rows of desks, before which were seated young +men and young women, all of whom Jimmy thought were staring at him, he +could feel the deep crimson burning upward from his collar to the roots +of his hair. + +Never before in his life had Jimmy's self-esteem received such a +tremendous jolt. He was still blushing when he reached his cab, and as +he drove back toward the Loop he could feel successive hot waves suffuse +his countenance at each recollection of the humiliating scene through +which he had just passed. + +It was not until the next day that Jimmy had sufficiently reestablished +his self-confidence to permit him to seek out the party who wished a +mail-order manager, and while in this instance he met with very pleasant +and gentlemanly treatment, his application was no less definitely turned +down. + +For a month Jimmy trailed one job after another. At the end of the +first week he decided that the street-cars and sole leather were less +expensive than taxicabs, as his funds were running perilously low; and +he also lowered his aspirations successively from general managerships +through departmental heads, assistants thereto, office managers, +assistant office managers, and various other vocations, all with the +same result; discovering meanwhile that experience, while possibly not +essential as some of the ads stated, was usually the rock upon which his +hopes were dashed. + +He also learned something else which surprised him greatly: that rather +than being an aid to his securing employment, his college education was +a drawback, several men telling him bluntly that they had no vacancies +for rah-rah boys. + +At the end of the second week Jimmy had moved from his hotel to a still +less expensive one, and a week later to a cheap boarding-house on the +north side. At first he had written his father and his mother regularly, +but now he found it difficult to write them at all. Toward the middle of +the fourth week Jimmy had reached a point where he applied for a +position as office-boy. + +"I'll be damned if I'm going to quit," he said to himself, "if I have to +turn street-sweeper. There must be some job here in the city that I am +capable of filling, and I'm pretty sure that I can at least get a job as +office-boy." + +And so he presented himself to the office manager of a life-insurance +company that had advertised such a vacancy. A very kindly gentleman +interviewed him. + +"What experience have you had?" he asked. + +Jimmy looked at him aghast. + +"Do I have to have experience to be an office-boy?" he asked. + +"Well, of course," replied the gentleman, "it is not essential, but it +is preferable. I already have applications from a dozen or more fellows, +half of whom have had experience, and one in particular, whom I have +about decided to employ, held a similar position with another +life-insurance company." + +Jimmy rose. "Good day," he said, and walked out. + +That day he ate no lunch, but he had discovered a place where an +abundance might be had for twenty-five cents if one knew how to order +and ordered judiciously. And so to this place he repaired for his +dinner. Perched upon a high stool, he filled at least a corner of the +aching void within. + +Sitting in his room that night he took account of his assets and his +liabilities. His room rent was paid until Saturday and this was +Thursday, and in his pocket were one dollar and sixty cents. Opening his +trunk, he drew forth a sheet of paper and an envelope, and, clearing the +top of the rickety little table which stood at the head of his bed, he +sat down on the soiled counterpane and wrote a letter. + + + DEAR DAD: + + I guess I'm through, I have tried and + failed. It is hard to admit it, but I guess I'll + have to. If you will send me the price I'll + come home. + With love, + Jim + + + +Slowly he folded the letter and inserted it in the envelope, his face +mirroring an utter dejection such as Jimmy Torrance had never before +experienced in his life. + +"Failure," he muttered, "unutterable failure." + +Taking his hat, he walked down the creaking stairway, with its +threadbare carpet, and out onto the street to post his letter. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +JIMMY LANDS ONE. + +Miss Elizabeth Compton sat in the dimly lighted library upon a +deep-cushioned, tapestried sofa. She was not alone, yet although there +were many comfortable chairs in the large room, and the sofa was an +exceptionally long one, she and her companion occupied but little more +space than would have comfortably accommodated a single individual. + +"Stop it, Harold," she admonished. "I utterly loathe being mauled." + +"But I can't help it, dear. It seems so absolutely wonderful! I can't +believe it--that you are really mine." + +"But I'm not--yet!" exclaimed the girl. + +"There are a lot of formalities and bridesmaids and ministers and things +that have got to be taken into consideration before I am yours. And +anyway there is no necessity for mussing me up so. You might as well +know now as later that I utterly loathe this cave-man stuff. And really, +Harold, there is nothing about your appearance that suggests a cave-man, +which is probably one reason that I like you." + +"Like me?" exclaimed the young man. "I thought you loved me." + +"I have to like you in order to love you, don't I?" she parried. "And +one certainly has to like the man she is going to marry." + +"Well," grumbled Mr. Bince, "you might be more enthusiastic about it." + +"I prefer," explained the girl, "to be loved decorously. I do not care +to be pawed or clawed or crumpled. After we have been married for +fifteen or twenty years and are really well acquainted--" + +"Possibly you will permit me to kiss you," Bince finished for her. + +"Don't be silly, Harold," she retorted. "You have kissed me so much now +that my hair is all down, and my face must be a sight. Lips are what you +are supposed to kiss with--you don't have to kiss with your hands." + +"Possibly I was a little bit rough. I am sorry," apologized the young +man. "But when a fellow has just been told by the sweetest girl in the +world that she will marry him, it's enough to make him a little bit +crazy." + +"Not at all," rejoined Miss Compton. "We should never forget the +stratum of society to which we belong, and what we owe to the +maintenance of the position we hold. My father has always impressed upon +me the fact that gentlemen or gentlewomen are always gentle-folk under +any and all circumstances and conditions. I distinctly recall his remark +about one of his friends, whom he greatly admired, to this effect: that +he always got drunk like a gentleman. Therefore we should do everything +as gentle-folk should do things, and when we make love we should make +love like gentlefolk, and not like hod-carriers or cavemen." + +"Yes," said the young man; "I'll try to remember." + +It was a little after nine o'clock when Harold Bince arose to leave. + +"I'll drive you home," volunteered the girl. "Just wait, and I'll have +Barry bring the roadster around." + +"I thought we should always do the things that gentle-folk should do," +said Bince, grinning, after being seated safely in the car. They had +turned out of the driveway into Lincoln Parkway. + +"What do you mean?" asked Elizabeth. + +"Is it perfectly proper for young ladies to drive around the streets of +a big city alone after dark?" + +"But I'm not alone," she said. + +"You will be after you leave me at home." + +"Oh, well, I'm different." + +"And I'm glad that you are!" exclaimed Bince fervently. "I wouldn't +love you if you were like the ordinary run." + +Bince lived at one of the down-town clubs, and after depositing him +there and parting with a decorous handclasp the girl turned her machine +and headed north for home. At Erie Street came a sudden loud hissing of +escaping air. + +"Darn!" exclaimed Miss Elizabeth Compton as she drew in beside the curb +and stopped. Although she knew perfectly well that one of the tires was +punctured, she got out and walked around in front as though in search of +the cause of the disturbance, and sure enough, there it was, flat as a +pancake, the left front tire. + +There was an extra wheel on the rear of the roadster, but it was heavy +and cumbersome, and the girl knew from experience what a dirty job +changing a wheel is. She had just about decided to drive home on the +rim, when a young man crossed the walk from Erie Street and joined her +in her doleful appraisement of the punctured casing. + +"Can I help you any?" he asked. + +She looked up at him. "Thank you," she replied, "but I think I'll drive +home on it as it is. They can change it there." + +"It looks like a new casing," he said. "It would be too bad to ruin it. +If you have a spare I will be very glad to change it for you," and +without waiting for her acquiescence he stripped off his coat, rolled up +his shirt-sleeves, and dove under the seat for the jack. + +Elizabeth Compton was about to protest, but there was something about +the way in which the stranger went at the job that indicated that he +would probably finish it if he wished to, in spite of any arguments she +could advance to the contrary. As he worked she talked with him, +discovering not only that he was a rather nice person to look at, but +that he was equally nice to talk to. + +She could not help but notice that his clothes were rather badly +wrinkled and that his shoes were dusty and well worn; for when he +kneeled in the street to operate the jack the sole of one shoe was +revealed beneath the light of an adjacent arc, and she saw that it was +badly worn. Evidently he was a poor young man. + +She had observed these things almost unconsciously, and yet they made +their impression upon her, so that when he had finished she recalled +them, and was emboldened thereby to offer him a bill in payment for his +services. He refused, as she had almost expected him to do, for while +his clothes and his shoes suggested that he might accept a gratuity, his +voice and his manner belied them. + +During the operation of changing the wheel the young man had a good +opportunity to appraise the face and figure of the girl, both of which +he found entirely to his liking, and when finally she started off, after +thanking him, he stood upon the curb watching the car until it +disappeared from view. + +Slowly he drew from his pocket an envelope which had been addressed and +stamped for mailing, and very carefully tore it into small bits which he +dropped into the gutter. He could not have told had any one asked him +what prompted him to the act. A girl had come into his life for an +instant, and had gone out again, doubtless forever, and yet in that +instant Jimmy Torrance had taken a new grasp upon his self-esteem. + +It might have been the girl, and again it might not have been. He could +not tell. Possibly it was the simple little act of refusing the tip she +had proffered him. It might have been any one of a dozen little +different things, or an accumulation of them all, that had brought back +a sudden flood of the old self-confidence and optimism. + +"To-morrow," said Jimmy as he climbed into his bed, "I am going to land +a job." + +And he did. In the department store to the general managership of whose +mail-order department he had aspired Jimmy secured a position in the +hosiery department at ten dollars a week. The department buyer who had +interviewed him asked him what experience he had had with ladies' +hosiery. + +"About four or five years," replied Jimmy. + +"For whom did you work?" + +"I was in business for myself," replied the applicant, "both in the West +and in the East. I got my first experience in a small town in Nebraska, +but I carried on a larger business in the East later." + +So they gave Jimmy a trial in a new section of the hosiery department, +wherein he was the only male clerk. The buyer had discovered that there +was a sufficient proportion of male customers, many of whom displayed +evident embarrassment in purchasing hosiery from young ladies, to +warrant putting a man clerk in one of the sections for this class of +trade. + +The fact of the matter was, however, that the astute buyer was never +able to determine the wisdom of his plan, since Jimmy's entire time was +usually occupied in waiting upon impressionable young ladies. However, +inasmuch as it redounded to the profit of the department, the buyer +found no fault. + +Possibly if Jimmy had been almost any other type of man from what he +was, his presence would not have been so flamboyantly noticeable in a +hosiery department. His stature, his features, and his bronzed skin, +that had lost nothing of its bronze in his month's search for work +through the hot summer streets of a big city, were as utterly out of +place as would have been the salient characteristics of a chorus-girl in +a blacksmith-shop. + +For the first week Jimmy was frightfully embarrassed, and to his natural +bronze was added an almost continuous flush of mortification from the +moment that he entered the department in the morning until he left it at +night. + +"It is a job, however," he thought, "and ten dollars is better than +nothing. I can hang onto it until something better turns up." + +With his income now temporarily fixed at the amount of his wages, he was +forced to find a less expensive boarding-place, although at the time he +had rented his room he had been quite positive that there could not be a +cheaper or more undesirable habitat for man. Transportation and other +considerations took him to a place on Indiana Avenue near Eighteenth +Street, from whence he found he could walk to and from work, thereby +saving ten cents a day. "And believe me," he cogitated, "I need the +ten." + +Jimmy saw little of his fellow roomers. A strange, drab lot he thought +them from the occasional glimpses he had had in passings upon the dark +stairway and in the gloomy halls. They appeared to be quiet, inoffensive +sort of folk, occupied entirely with their own affairs. He had made no +friends in the place, not even an acquaintance, nor did he care to. What +leisure time he had he devoted to what he now had come to consider as +his life work--the answering of blind ads in the Help Wanted columns of +one morning and one evening paper--the two mediums which seemed to +carry the bulk of such advertising. + +For a while he had sought a better position by applying during the noon +hour to such places as gave an address close enough to the department +store in which he worked to permit him to make the attempt during the +forty-five-minute period he was allowed for his lunch. + +But he soon discovered that nine-tenths of the positions were filled +before he arrived, and that in the few cases where they were not he not +only failed of employment, but was usually so delayed that he was late +in returning to work after noon. + +By replying to blind ads evenings he could take his replies to the two +newspaper offices during his lunch hour, thereby losing no great amount +of time. Although he never received a reply, he still persisted as he +found the attempt held something of a fascination for him, similar +probably to that which holds the lottery devotee or the searcher after +buried treasure--there was always the chance that he would turn up +something big. + +And so another month dragged by slowly. His work in the department +store disgusted him. It seemed such a silly, futile occupation for a +full-grown man, and he was always fearful that the sister or sweetheart +or mother of some of his Chicago friends would find him there behind the +counter in the hosiery section. + +The store was a large one, including many departments, and Jimmy tried +to persuade the hosiery buyer to arrange for his transfer to another +department where his work would be more in keeping with his sex and +appearance. + +He rather fancied the automobile accessories line, but the buyer was +perfectly satisfied with Jimmy's sales record, and would do nothing to +assist in the change. The university heavyweight champion had reached a +point where he loathed but one thing more than he did silk hosiery, and +that one thing was himself. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +HAROLD PLAYS THE RAVEN. + +Mason Compton, president and general manager, sat in his private office +in the works of the International Machine Company, chewing upon an +unlighted cigar and occasionally running his fingers through his +iron-gray hair as he compared and recompared two statements which lay +upon the desk before him. + +"Damn strange," he muttered as he touched a button beneath the edge of +his desk. A boy entered the room. "Ask Mr. Bince if he will be good +enough to step in here a moment, please," said Compton; and a moment +later, when Harold Bince entered, the older man leaned back in his chair +and motioned the other to be seated. + +"I can't understand these statements, Harold," said Compton. "Here is +one for August of last year and this is this August's statement of +costs. We never had a better month in the history of this organization +than last month, and yet our profits are not commensurate with the +volume of business that we did. That's the reason I sent for these cost +statements and have compared them, and I find that our costs have +increased out of all proportions to what is warranted. How do you +account for it?" + +"Principally the increased cost of labor," replied Bince. "The same +holds true of everybody else. Every manufacturer in the country is in +the same plight we are." + +"I know," agreed Compton, "that that is true to some measure. Both +labor and raw materials have advanced, but we have advanced our prices +correspondingly. In some instances it seems to me that our advance in +prices, particularly on our specialties, should have given us even a +handsomer profit over the increased cost of production than we formerly +received. + +"In the last six months since I appointed you assistant manager I am +afraid that I have sort of let things get out of my grasp. I have a lot +of confidence in you, Harold, and now that you and Elizabeth are engaged +I feel even more inclined to let you shoulder the responsibilities that +I have carried alone from the inception of this organization. But I've +got to be mighty sure that you are going to do at least as well as I +did. You have shown a great deal of ability, but you are young and +haven't had the advantage of the years of experience that made it +possible for me to finally develop a business second to none in this +line in the West. + +"I never had a son, and after Elizabeth's mother died I have lived in +the hope somehow that she would marry the sort of chap who would really +take the place of such a son as every man dreams of--some one who will +take his place and carry on his work when he is ready to lay aside his +tools. I liked your father, Harold. He was one of the best friends that +I ever had, and I can tell you now what I couldn't have you a month ago: +that when I employed you and put you in this position it was with the +hope that eventually you would fill the place in my business and in my +home of the son I never had." + +"Do you think Elizabeth guessed what was in your mind?" asked Bince. + +"I don't know," replied the older man. "I have tried never to say +anything to influence her. Years ago when she was younger we used to +talk about it half jokingly and shortly after you told me of your +engagement she remarked to me one day that she was happy, for she knew +you were going to be the sort of son I had wanted. + +"I haven't anybody on earth but her, Harold, and when I die she gets the +business. I have arranged it in my will so you two will share and share +alike in profits after I go, but that will be some time. I am far from +being an old man, and I am a mighty healthy one. However, I should like +to be relieved of the active management. There are a lot of things that I +have always wanted to do that I couldn't do because I couldn't spare the +time from my business. + +"And so I want you to get thoroughly into the harness as soon as +possible, that I may turn over the entire management to you. But I can't do +it, Harold, while the profits are diminishing." + +As the older man's gaze fell again to statements before him the eyes of +the younger man narrowed just a trifle as they rested upon Mason Compton, +and then as the older man looked up Bince's expression changed. + +"I'll do my best, sir," he said, smiling. "Of course I realize, as you +must, that I have tried to learn a great deal in a short time. I think I +have reached a point now where I pretty thoroughly grasp the +possibilities and requirements of my work, and I am sure that from now +on you will note a decided change for the better on the right side of +the ledger." + +"I am sure of it, my boy," said Compton heartily. "Don't think that I +have been finding fault with anything you have done. I just wanted to +call your attention to these figures. They mean something, and it's up +to you to find out just what they do mean." + +And then there came a light tap on the door, which opened immediately +before any summons to enter had been given, and Elizabeth Compton +entered, followed by another young woman. + +"Hello, there!" exclaimed Compton. "What gets us out so early? And +Harriet too! There is only one thing that would bring you girls in here +so early." + +"And what's that?" asked Elizabeth. + +"You are going shopping, and Elizabeth wants some money." + +They all laughed. "You're a regular Sherlock Holmes!" exclaimed Harriet +Holden. + +"How much?" asked Compton of his daughter, still smiling. + +"How much have you?" asked Elizabeth. "I am utterly broke." + +Compton turned to Bince. "Get her what she needs, Harold," he said. + +The young man started to the door. + +"Come with me, Elizabeth," he said; "we will go out to the cashier's +cage and get you fixed up." + +They entered Bince's office, which adjoined Compton's. + +"Wait here a minute, Elizabeth," said Bince. "How much do you want? +I'll get it for you and bring it back. I want to see you a moment alone +before you go." + +She told him how much she wanted, and he was back shortly with the +currency. + +"Elizabeth," he said, "I don't know whether you have noticed it or not, +because your father isn't a man to carry his troubles home, but I +believe that he is failing rapidly, largely from overwork. He worries +about conditions here which really do not exist. I have been trying to +take the load off his shoulders so that he could ease up a bit, but he +has got into a rut from which he cannot be guided. + +"He will simply have to be lifted completely out of it, or he will stay +here and die in the harness. Everything is running splendidly, and now +that I have a good grasp of the business I can handle it. Don't you +suppose you could persuade him to take a trip? I know that he wants to +travel. He has told me so several times, and if he could get away from +here this fall and stay away for a year, if possible, it would make a +new man of him. I am really very much worried about him, and while I +hate to worry you I feel that you are the only person who can influence +him and that something ought to be done and done at once." + +"Why, Harold," exclaimed the girl, "there is nothing the matter with +father! He was never better in his life nor more cheerful." + +"That's the side of him that he lets you see," replied the man. "His +gaiety is all forced. If you could see him after you leave you would +realize that he is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Your father is +not an old man in years, but he has placed a constant surtax on his +nervous system for the last twenty-five years without a let-up, and it +doesn't make any difference how good a machine may be it is going to +wear out some day, and the better the machine the more complete will be +the wreck when the final break occurs." + +As he spoke he watched the girl's face, the changing expression of it, +which marked her growing mental perturbation. + +"You really believe it is as bad as that, Harold?" she asked. + +"It may be worse than I think," he said. "It is surely fully as bad." + +The girl rose slowly from the chair. "I will try and persuade him to +see Dr. Earle." + +The man took a step toward her. "I don't believe a doctor is what he +needs," he said quickly. "His condition is one that even a nerve +specialist might not diagnose correctly. It is only some one in a +position like mine, who has an opportunity to observe him almost hourly, +day by day, who would realize his condition. I doubt if he has any +organic trouble whatever. What he needs is a long rest, entirely free +from any thought whatever of business. At least, Elizabeth, it will do +him no harm, and it may prolong his life for years. I wouldn't go +messing around with any of these medical chaps." + +"Well," she said at last, with a sigh, "I will talk to him and see if I +can't persuade him to take a trip. He has always wanted to visit Japan +and China." + +"Just the thing!" exclaimed Bince; "just the thing for him. The long +sea voyage will do him a world of good. And now," he said, stepping to +her side and putting an arm around her. + +She pushed him gently away. + +"No," she said; "I do not feel like kissing now," and turning she +entered her father's office, followed by Bince. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +JOBLESS AGAIN. + +From her father's works Elizabeth and Harriet drove to the shopping +district, where they strolled through a couple of shops and then stopped +at one of the larger stores. + +Jimmy Torrance was arranging his stock, fully nine-tenths of which he +could have sworn he had just shown an elderly spinster who had taken at +least half an hour of his time and then left without making a purchase. +His back was toward his counter when his attention was attracted by a +feminine voice asking if he was busy. As he turned about he recognized +her instantly--the girl for whom he had changed a wheel a month before +and who unconsciously had infused new ambition into his blood and saved +him, temporarily at least, from becoming a quitter. + +He noticed as he waited on her that she seemed to be appraising him very +carefully, and at times there was a slightly puzzled expression on her +face, but evidently she did not recognize him, and finally when she had +concluded her purchases he was disappointed that she paid for them in +cash. He had rather hoped that she would have them charged and sent, +that he might learn her name and address. And then she left, with Jimmy +none the wiser concerning her other than that her first name was +Elizabeth and that she was even better-looking than he recalled her to +have been. + +"And the girl with her!" exclaimed Jimmy mentally. "She was no slouch +either. They are the two best-looking girls I have seen in this town, +notwithstanding the fact that whether one likes Chicago or not he's got +to admit that there are more pretty girls here than in any other city in +the country. + +"I'm glad she didn't recognize me. Of course, I don't know her, and the +chances are that I never shall, but I should hate to have any one +recognize me here, or hereafter, as that young man at the stocking +counter. Gad! but it's beastly that a regular life-sized man should be +selling stockings to women for a living, or rather for a fraction of a +living." + +While Jimmy had always been hugely disgusted with his position, the +sight of the girl seemed to have suddenly crystallized all those weeks +of self-contempt into a sudden almost mad desire to escape what he +considered his degrading and effeminating surroundings. One must bear +with Jimmy and judge him leniently, for after all, notwithstanding his +college diploma and physique, he was still but a boy and so while it is +difficult for a mature and sober judgment to countenance his next step, +if one can look back a few years to his own youth he can at least find +extenuating circumstances surrounding Jimmy's seeming foolishness. + +For with a bang that caused startled clerks in all directions to look up +from their work he shattered the decorous monotone of the great store by +slamming his sales book viciously upon the counter, and without a word +of explanation to his fellow clerks marched out of the section toward +the buyer's desk. + +"Well, Mr. Torrance," asked that gentleman, "what can I do for you?" + +"I am going to quit," announced Jimmy. + +"Quit!"' exclaimed the buyer. "Why, what's wrong? Isn't everything +perfectly satisfactory? You have never complained to me." + +"I can't explain," replied Jimmy. "I am going to quit. I am not +satisfied. I am going to er--ah--accept another position." + +The buyer raised his eyebrows. "Ah!" he said. "With--" and he named +their closest competitor. + +"No," said Jimmy. "I am going to get a regular he-job." + +The other smiled. "If an increase in salary," he suggested, "would +influence you, I had intended to tell you that I would take care of you +beginning next week. I thought of making it fifteen dollars," and with +that unanswerable argument for Jimmy's continued service the buyer sat +back and folded his hands. + +"Nothing stirring," said Jimmy. "I wouldn't sell another sock if you +paid me ten thousand dollars a year. I am through." + +"Oh, very well," said the buyer aggrievedly, "but if you leave me this +way you will be unable to refer to the house." + +But nothing, not even a team of oxen, could have held Jimmy in that +section another minute, and so he got his pay and left with nothing more +in view than a slow death by starvation. + +"There," exclaimed Elizabeth Compton, as she sank back on the cushions +of her car. + +"There what?" asked Harriet. + +"I have placed him." + +"Whom?" + +"That nice-looking young person who waited on us in the hosiery +section." + +"Oh!" said Harriet. "He was nice-looking, wasn't he? But he looked out +of place there, and I think he felt out of place. Did you notice how he +flushed when he asked you what size?" and the girls laughed heartily at +the recollection. "But where have you ever met him before?" Harriet +asked. + +"I have never met him," corrected Elizabeth, accenting the "met." "He +changed a wheel on the roadster several weeks ago one evening after I +had taken Harold down to the club. And he was very nice about it. I +should say that he is a gentleman, although his clothes were pretty +badly worn." + +"Yes," said Harriet, "his suit was shabby, but his linen was clean and +his coat well brushed." + +"My!" exclaimed Elizabeth. "He must have made an impression on some +one." + +"Well," said Harriet, "it isn't often you see such a nice-looking chap +in the hosiery section." + +"No," said Elizabeth, "and probably if he were as nice as he looks he +wouldn't be there." + +Whereupon the subject was changed, and she promptly forgot Mr. Jimmy +Torrance. But Jimmy was not destined soon to forget her, for as the +jobless days passed and he realized more and more what an ass he had +made of himself, and why, he had occasion to think about her a great +deal, although never in any sense reproaching her. He realized that the +fault was his own and that he had done a foolish thing in giving up his +position because of a girl he did not know and probably never would. + +There came a Saturday when Jimmy, jobless and fundless, dreaded his +return to the Indiana Avenue rooming-house, where he knew the landlady +would be eagerly awaiting him, for he was a week in arrears in his room +rent already, and had been warned he could expect no further credit. + +"There is a nice young man wanting your room," the landlady had told +him, "and I shall have to be having it Saturday night unless you can pay +up." + +Jimmy stood on the corner of Clark and Van Buren looking at his watch. +"I hate to do it," he thought, "but the Lizard said he could get twenty +for it, and twenty would give me another two weeks." And so his watch +went, and two weeks later his cigarette-case and ring followed. Jimmy +had never gone in much for jewelry--a fact which he now greatly +lamented. + +Some of the clothes he still had were good, though badly in want of +pressing, and when, after still further days of fruitless searching for +work the proceeds from the articles he had pawned were exhausted, it +occurred to him he might raise something on all but what he actually +needed to cover his nakedness. + +In his search for work he was still wearing his best-looking suit; the +others he would dispose of; and with this plan in his mind on his return +to his room that night he went to the tiny closet to make a bundle of +the things which he would dispose of on the morrow, only to discover +that in his absence some one had been there before him, and that there +was nothing left for him to sell. + +It would be two days before his room rent was again due, but in the mean +time Jimmy had no money wherewith to feed the inner man. It was an +almost utterly discouraged Jimmy who crawled into his bed to spend a +sleepless night of worry and vain regret, the principal object of his +regret being that he was not the son of a blacksmith who had taught him +how to shoe horses and who at the same time had been too poor to send +him to college. + +Long since there had been driven into his mind the conviction that for +any practical purpose in life a higher education was as useless as the +proverbial fifth wheel to the coach. + +"And even," mused Jimmy, "if I had graduated at the head of my class, I +would be no better off than I am now." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +BREAD FROM THE WATERS. + +The next day, worn out from loss of sleep, the young man started out +upon a last frenzied search for employment. He had no money for +breakfast, and so he went breakfastless, and as he had no carfare it was +necessary for him to walk the seemingly interminable miles from one +prospective job to another. By the middle of the afternoon Jimmy was +hungrier than he had ever been before in his life. He was so hungry that +it actually hurt, and he was weak from physical fatigue and from +disappointment and worry. + +"I've got to eat," he soliloquized fiercely, "if I have to go out +to-night and pound somebody on the head to get the price, and I'm going +to do it," he concluded as the odors of cooking food came to him from a +cheap restaurant which he was passing. He stopped a moment and looked +into the window at the catsup bottles and sad-looking pies which the +proprietor apparently seemed to think formed an artistic and attractive +window display. + +"If I had a brick," thought Jimmy, "I would have one of those pies, even +if I went to the jug for it," but his hunger had not made him as +desperate as he thought he was, and so he passed slowly on, and, +glancing into the windows of the store next door, saw a display of +second-hand clothes and the sign "Clothes Bought and Sold." + +Jimmy looked at those in the window and then down at his own, which, +though wrinkled, were infinitely better than anything on display. + +"I wonder," he mused, "if I couldn't put something over in the way of +high finance here," and, acting upon the inspiration, he entered the +dingy little shop. When he emerged twenty minutes later he wore a shabby +and rather disreputable suit of hand-me-downs, but he had two silver +dollars in his pocket. + +When Jimmy returned to his room that night it was with a full stomach, +but with the knowledge that he had practically reached the end of his +rope. He had been unable to bring himself to the point of writing his +father an admission of his failure, and in fact he had gone so far, and +in his estimation had sunk so low, that he had definitely determined he +would rather starve to death now than admit his utter inefficiency to +those whose respect he most valued. + +As he climbed the stairway to his room he heard some one descending from +above, and as they passed beneath the dim light of a flickering gas-jet +he realized that the other stopped suddenly and turned back to look +after him as Jimmy continued his ascent of the stairs; and then a low +voice inquired: + +"Say, bo, what you doin' here?" + +Jimmy turned toward the questioner. + +"Oh!" he exclaimed as recognition of the other dawned slowly upon him. +"It's you, is it? My old and esteemed friend, the Lizard." + +"Sure, it's me," replied the Lizard. "But what you doin' here? Looking +for an assistant general manager?" + +Jimmy grinned. + +"Don't rub it in," he said, still smiling. + +The other ascended toward him, his keen eyes appraising him from head to +foot. + +"You live here?" he asked. + +"Yes," replied Jimmy; "do you?" + +"Sure, I been livin' here for the last six months." + +"That's funny," said Jimmy; "I have been here about two months myself." + +"What's the matter with you?" asked the Lizard. "Didn't you like the +job as general manager?" + +Jimmy flushed. + +"Forget it," he admonished. + +"Where's your room?" asked the Lizard. + +"Up another flight," said Jimmy. "Won't you come up?" + +"Sure," said the Lizard, and together the two ascended the stairs and +entered Jimmy's room. Under the brighter light there the Lizard +scrutinized his host. + +"You been against it, bo, haven't you?" he asked. + +"I sure have," said Jimmy. + +"Gee," said the other, "what a difference clothes make! You look like a +regular bum." + +"Thanks," said Jimmy. + +"What you doin'?" asked the Lizard. + +"Nothing." + +"Lose your job?" + +"I quit it," said Jimmy. "I've only worked a month since I've been +here, and that for the munificent salary of ten dollars a week." + +"Do you want to make some coin?" asked the Lizard. + +"I sure do," said Jimmy. "I don't know of anything I would rather +have." + +"I'm pullin' off something to-morrow night. I can use you," and he eyed +Jimmy shrewdly as he spoke. + +"Cracking a box?" asked Jimmy, grinning. + +"It might be something like that," replied the Lizard; "but you won't +have nothin' to do but stand where I put you and make a noise like a cat +if you see anybody coming. It ought to be something good. I been working +on it for three months. We'll split something like fifty thousand +thirty-seventy." + +"Is that the usual percentage?" asked Jimmy. + +"It's what I'm offerin' you," replied the lizard. + +Thirty per cent of fifty thousand dollars! Jimmy jingled the few pieces +of silver remaining in his pocket. Fifteen thousand dollars! And here he +had been walking his legs off and starving in a vain attempt to earn a +few paltry dollars honestly. + +"There's something wrong somewhere," muttered Jimmy to himself. + +"I'm taking it from an old crab who has more than he can use, and all of +it he got by robbing people that didn't have any to spare. He's a big +guy here. When anything big is doing the newspaper guys interview him +and his name is in all the lists of subscriptions to charity--when +they're going to be published in the papers. I'll bet he takes +nine-tenths of his kale from women and children, and he's an honored +citizen. I ain't no angel, but whatever I've taken didn't cause nobody +any sufferin'--I'm a thief, bo, and I'm mighty proud of it when I think +of what this other guy is." + +Thirty per cent of fifty thousand dollars! Jimmy was sitting with his +legs crossed. He looked down at his ill-fitting, shabby trousers, and +then turned up the sole of one shoe which was worn through almost to his +sock. The Lizard watched him as a cat watches a mouse. He knew that the +other was thinking hard, and that presently he would reach a decision, +and through Jimmy's mind marched a sordid and hateful procession of +recent events--humiliation, rebuff, shame, poverty, hunger, and in the +background the face of his father and the face of a girl whose name, +even, he did not know. + +Presently he looked up at the Lizard. + +"Nothing doing, old top," he said. "But don't mistake the motives which +prompt me to refuse your glittering offer. I am moved by no moral +scruples, however humiliating such a confession should be. The way I +feel now I would almost as lief go out and rob widows and orphans +myself, but each of us, some time in our life, has to consider some one +who would probably rather see us dead than disgraced. I don't know +whether you get me or not." + +"I get you," replied the Lizard, "and while you may never wear diamonds, +you'll get more pleasure out of life than I ever will, provided you +don't starve to death too soon. You know, I had a hunch you would turn +me down, and I'm glad you did. If you were going crooked some time I +thought I'd like to have you with me. When it comes to men, I'm a pretty +good picker. That's the reason I have kept out of jail so long. I either +pick a square one or I work alone." + +"Thanks," said Jimmy, "but how do you know that after you pull this job +I won't tip off the police and claim the reward." + +The Lizard grinned his lip grin. + +"There ain't one chance in a million," he said. "You'd starve to death +before you'd do it. And now, what you want is a job. I can probably get +you one if you ain't too particular." + +"I'd do anything," said Jimmy, "that I could do and still look a policeman +in the face." + +"All right," said the Lizard. "When I come back I'll bring you a job of +some sort. I may be back to-night, and I may not be back again for a +month, and in the mean time you got to live." + +He drew a roll of bills from his pocket and commenced to count out +several. + +"Hold on!" cried Jimmy. "Once again, nothing doing." + +"Forget it," admonished the Lizard. "I'm just payin' back the twenty +you loaned me." + +"But I didn't loan it to you," said Jimmy; "I gave it to you as a reward +for finding my watch." + +The Lizard laughed and shoved the money across the table. + +"Take it," he said; "don't be a damn fool. And now so-long! I may +bring you home a job to-night, but if I don't you've got enough to live +on for a couple of weeks." + +After the Lizard had gone Jimmy sat looking at the twenty dollars for a +long time. + +"That fellow may be a thief," he soliloquized, "but whatever he is he's +white. Just imagine, the only friend I've got in Chicago is a +safe-blower." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +HAROLD SITS IN A GAME. + +When Elizabeth Compton broached to her father the subject of a +much-needed rest and a trip to the Orient, he laughed at her. "Why, +girl," he cried, "I was never better in my life! Where in the world did +you get this silly idea?" + +"Harold noticed it first," she replied, "and called my attention to it; +and now I can see that you really have been failing." + +"Failing!" ejaculated Compton, with a scoff. "Failing nothing! You're +a pair of young idiots. I'm good for twenty years more of hard work, +but, as I told Harold, I would like to quit and travel, and I shall do +so just as soon as I am convinced that he can take my place." + +"Couldn't he do it now?" asked the girl. + +"No, I am afraid not," replied Compton. "It is too much to expect of +him, but I believe that in another year he will be able to." + +And so Compton put an end to the suggestion that he travel for his +health, and that night when Bince called she told him that she had been +unable to persuade her father that he needed a rest. + +"I am afraid," he said, "that you don't take it seriously enough +yourself, and that you failed to impress upon him the real gravity of +his condition. It is really necessary that he go--he must go." + +The girl looked up quickly at the speaker, whose tones seemed +unnecessarily vehement. + +"I don't quite understand," she said, "why you should take the matter so +to heart. Father is the best judge of his own condition, and, while he +may need a rest, I cannot see that he is in any immediate danger." + +"Oh, well," replied Bince irritably, "I just wanted him to get away for +his own sake. Of course, it don't mean anything to me." + +"What's the matter with you tonight, anyway, Harold?" she asked a half +an hour later. "You're as cross and disagreeable as you can be." + +"No, I'm not," he said. "There is nothing the matter with me at all." + +But his denial failed to convince her, and as, unusually early, a few +minutes later he left, she realized that she had spent a most unpleasant +evening. + +Bince went directly to his club, where he found four other men who were +evidently awaiting him. + +"Want to sit in a little game to-night, Harold?" asked one of them. + +"Oh, hell," replied Bince, "you fellows have been sitting here all +evening waiting for me. You know I want to. My luck's got to change some +time." + +"Sure thing it has," agreed another of the men. "You certainly have +been playing in rotten luck, but when it does change--oh, baby!" + +As the five men entered one of the cardrooms several of the inevitable +spectators drew away from the other games and approached their table, +for it was a matter of club gossip that these five played for the +largest stakes of any coterie among the habitues of the card-room. + +It was two o'clock in the morning before Bince disgustedly threw his +cards upon the table and rose. There was a nasty expression on his face +and in his mind a thing which he did not dare voice--the final +crystallization of a suspicion that he had long harbored, that his +companions had been for months deliberately fleecing him. Tonight he had +lost five thousand dollars, nor was there a man at the table who did not +hold his I. O. U's. for similar amounts. + +"I'm through, absolutely through," he said. "I'll be damned if I ever +touch another card." + +His companions only smiled wearily, for they knew that to-morrow night +he would be back at the table. + +"How much of old man Compton's money did you get tonight?" asked one of +the four after Bince had left the room. + +"About two thousand dollars," was the reply, "which added to what I +already hold, puts Mr. Compton in my debt some seven or eight thousand +dollars." + +Whereupon they all laughed. + +"I suppose," remarked anther, "that it's a damn shame, but if we don't +get it some one else will." + +"Is he paying anything at all?" asked another. + +"Oh, yes; he comes across with something now and then, but we'll +probably have to carry the bulk of it until after the wedding." + +"Well, I can't carry it forever," said the first speaker. "I'm not +playing here for my health," and, rising, he too left the room. Going +directly to the buffet, he found Bince, as he was quite sure that he +would. + +"Look here, old man," he said, "I hate to seem insistent, but, on the +level, I've got to have some money." + +"I've told you two or three times,"' replied Bince, "that I'd let you +have it as soon as I could get it. I can't get you any now." + +"If you haven't got it, Mason Compton has," retorted the creditor, "and +if you don't come across I'll go to him and get it." + +Bince paled. + +"You wouldn't do that, Harry?" he almost whimpered. "For God's sake, +don't do that, and I'll try and see what I can do for you." + +"Well," replied the other, "I don't want to be nasty, but I need some +money badly." + +"Give me a little longer," begged Bince, "and I'll see what I can do." + +Jimmy Torrance sat a long time in thought after the Lizard left. "God!" +he muttered. "I wonder what dad would say if he knew that I had come to +a point where I had even momentarily considered going into partnership +with a safe-blower, and that for the next two weeks I shall be +compelled to subsist upon the charity of a criminal? + +"I'm sure glad that I have a college education. It has helped me +materially to win to my present exalted standing in society. Oh, well I +might be worse off, I suppose. At least I don't have to worry about the +income tax. + +"It is now October, and since the first of the year I have earned forty +dollars exactly. I have also received a bequest of twenty dollars, which +of course is exempt. I venture to say that there is not another +able-bodied adult male in the United States the making of whose +income-tax schedule would be simpler than mine." + +With which philosophic trend of thought, and the knowledge that he could +eat for at least two weeks longer, the erstwhile star amateur first +baseman sought the doubtful comfort of his narrow, lumpy bed. + +It was in the neighborhood of two o'clock the next morning that he was +awakened by a gentle tapping upon the panels of his door. + +"Who is it?" he asked. "What do you want?" + +"It's me bo," came the whispered reply in the unmistakable tones of the +Lizard. + +Jimmy arose, lighted the gas, and opened the door. + +"What's the matter?" he whispered. + +"Are the police on your trail?" + +"No," replied the Lizard, grinning. "I just dropped in to tell you that +I grabbed a job for you." + +"Fine!" exclaimed Jimmy. "You're a regular fellow all right." + +"But you might not like the job," suggested the Lizard. + +"As long as I can earn an honest dollar," cried Jimmy, striking a +dramatic pose, "I care not what it may be." + +The Lizard's grin broadened. + +"I ain't so sure about that," he said. "I know your kind. You're a +regular gent. There is some honest jobs that you would just as soon have +as the smallpox, and maybe this is one of them." + +"What is it?" asked Jimmy. "Don't keep me guessing any longer." + +"You know Feinheimer's Cabaret." + +"The basement joint on Wells Street?" asked Jimmy. "Sure I know it." + +"Well, that's where I got you a job," said the Lizard. + +"What doing?" asked Jimmy. + +"Waiter," was the reply. + +"It isn't any worse than standing behind a counter, selling stockings to +women," said Jimmy. + +"It ain't such a bad job," admitted the Lizard, "if a guy ain't too +swelled up. Some of 'em make a pretty good thing out of it, what with +their tips and short changing--Oh, there are lots of little ways to +get yours at Feinheimer's." + +"I see," said Jimmy; "but don't he pay any wages?" + +"Oh, sure," replied the Lizard; "you get the union scale." + +"When do I go to work?" + +"Go around and see him to-morrow morning. He will put you right to +work." + +And so the following evening the patrons of Feinheimer's Cabaret saw a +new face among the untidy servitors of the establishment--a new face +and a new figure, both of which looked out of place in the atmosphere of +the basement resort. + +Feinheimer's Cabaret held a unique place among the restaurants of the +city. Its patrons were from all classes of society. At noon its many +tables were largely filled by staid and respectable business men, but at +night a certain element of the underworld claimed it as their own, and +there was always a sprinkling of people of the stage, artists, literary +men and politicians. It was, as a certain wit described it, a social +goulash, for in addition to its regular habitues there were those few +who came occasionally from the upper stratum of society in the belief +that they were doing something devilish. As a matter of fact, slumming +parties which began and ended at Feinheimer's were of no uncommon +occurrence, and as the place was more than usually orderly it was with +the greatest safety that society made excursions into the underworld of +crime and vice through its medium. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AT FEINHEIMER'S. + +Feinheimer liked Jimmy's appearance. He was big and strong, and the +fact that Feinheimer always retained one or two powerful men upon his +payroll accounted in a large measure for the orderliness of his place. +Occasionally one might start something at Feinheimer's, but no one was +ever known to finish what he started. + +And so Jimmy found himself waiting upon table at a place that was both +reputable and disreputable, serving business men at noon and criminals +and the women of the underworld at night. In the weeks that he was there +he came to know many of the local celebrities in various walks of life, +to know them at least by name. There was Steve Murray, the labor leader, +whom rumor said was one of Feinheimer's financial backers--a large man +with a loud voice and the table manners of a Duroc-Jersey. Jimmy took an +instinctive dislike to the man the first time that he saw him. + +And then there was Little Eva, whose real name was Edith. She was a +demure looking little girl, who came in every afternoon at four o'clock +for her breakfast. She usually came to Jimmy's table when it was vacant, +and at four o'clock she always ate alone. Later in the evening she would +come in again with a male escort, who was never twice the same. + +"I wonder what's the matter with me?" she said to Jimmy one day as he +was serving her breakfast. "I'm getting awfully nervous." + +"That's quite remarkable," said Jimmy. "I should think any one who +smoked as many cigarettes and drank as much whisky as you would have +perfect nerves." + +The girl laughed, a rather soft and mellow laugh. "I suppose I do hit +it up a little strong," she said. + +"Strong?" exclaimed Jimmy. "Why, if I drank half what you do I'd be in +the Washingtonian Home in a week." + +She looked at him quizzically for a moment, as she had looked at him +often since he had gone to work for Feinheimer. + +"You're a funny guy," she said. "I can't quite figure you out. What +are you doing here anyway?" + +"I never claimed to be much of a waiter," said Jimmy, "but I didn't know +I was so rotten that a regular customer of the place couldn't tell what +I was trying to do." + +"Oh, go on," she cried; "I don't mean that. These other hash-slingers +around here look the part. Aside from that, about the only thing they +know how to do is roll a souse; but you're different." + +"Yes," said Jimmy, "I am different. My abilities are limited. All I +can do is wait on table, while they have two accomplishments." + +"Oh, you don't have to tell me," said the girl. "I wasn't rubbering. I +was just sort of interested in you." + +"Thanks," said Jimmy. + +She went on with her breakfast while Jimmy set up an adjoining table. +Presently when he came to fill her water-glass she looked up at him +again. + +"I like you, kid," she said. "You're not fresh. You know what I am as +well as the rest of them, but you wait on me just the same as you would +on"--she hesitated and there was a little catch in her voice as she +finished her sentence--"just the same as you would on a decent girl." + +Jimmy looked at her in surprise. It was the first indication that he +had ever had from an habitue of Feinheimer's that there might lurk +within their breasts any of the finer characteristics whose outward +indices are pride and shame. He was momentarily at a loss as to what to +say, and as he hesitated the girl's gaze went past him and she +exclaimed: + +"Look who's here!" + +Jimmy turned to look at the newcomer, and saw the Lizard directly behind +him. + +"Howdy, bo," said his benefactor. "I thought I'd come in and give you +the once-over. And here's Little Eva with a plate of ham and at four +o'clock in the afternoon." + +The Lizard dropped into a chair at the table with the girl, and after +Jimmy had taken his order and departed for the kitchen Little Eva jerked +her thumb toward his retreating figure. + +"Friend of yours?" she asked. + +"He might have a worse friend," replied the Lizard non-committally. + +"What's his graft?" asked the girl. + +"He ain't got none except being on the square. It's funny," the Lizard +philosophized, "but here's me with a bank roll that would choke a horse, +and you probably with a stocking full of dough, and I'll bet all the +money I ever had or ever expect to have if one of us could change places +with that poor simp we'd do it." + +"He is a square guy, isn't he?" said the girl. "You can almost tell it +by looking at him. How did you come to know him?" + +"Oh, that's a long story," said the Lizard. "We room at the same place, +but I knew him before that." + +"On Indiana near Eighteenth?" asked the girl. + +"How the hell did you know?" he queried. + +"I know a lot of things I ain't supposed to know," replied she. + +"You're a wise guy, all right, Eva, and one thing I like about you is +that you don't let anything you know hurt you." + +And then, after a pause: "I like him," she said. "What's his name?" + +The Lizard eyed her for a moment. + +"Don't you get to liking him too much," he said. "That bird's the class. +He ain't for any little--" + +"Cut it!" exclaimed the girl. "I'm as good as you are and a damn +straighter. What I get I earn, and I don't steal it." + +The Lizard grinned. "I guess you're right at that; but don't try to +pull him down any lower than he is. He is coming up again some day to +where he belongs." + +"I ain't going to try to pull him down," said the girl. "And anyhow, +when were you made his godfather?" + +Jimmy saw Eva almost daily for many weeks. He saw her at her +post-meridian breakfast--sober and subdued; he saw her later in the +evening, in various stages of exhilaration, but at those times she did +not come to his table and seldom if ever did he catch her eye. + +They talked a great deal while she breakfasted, and he learned to like +the girl and to realize that she possessed two personalities. The one +which he liked dominated her at breakfast; the other which he loathed +guided her actions later in the evening. Neither of them ever referred +to those hours of her life, and as the days passed Jimmy found himself +looking forward to the hour when Little Eva would come to Feinheimer's +for her breakfast. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +CHRISTMAS EVE. + +It was Christmas Eve. Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden were +completing the rounds of their friends' homes with Christmas +remembrances--a custom that they had continued since childhood. The +last parcel had been delivered upon the South Side, and they were now +being driven north on Michigan Boulevard toward home. Elizabeth directed +the chauffeur to turn over Van Buren to State, which at this season of +the year was almost alive with belated Christmas shoppers and those +other thousands who always seize upon the slightest pretext for a +celebration. + +It was a noisy, joyous crowd whose spirit, harmonizing with the bright +lights and the gay shop windows, infected all who came within its +influence. As the car moved slowly northward along the world's greatest +retail street the girls leaned forward to watch the passing throng +through the windows. + +"Isn't it wonderful," exclaimed Harriet, "what a transformation a few +lights make? Who would ever think of State Street as a fairy-land? And +yet, if you half close your eyes the hallucination is complete. Even the +people who by daylight are shoddy and care-worn take on an appearance of +romance and gaiety, and the tawdry colored lights are the scintillant +gems of the garden of a fairy prince." + +"Don't!" Elizabeth pleaded. "The city night always affects me. It +makes me want to do something adventurous, and on Christmas Eve it is +even worse. If you keep on like that I shall soon be telling David to +drive us up and down State Street all night." + +"I wish we didn't have to go home right away," said Harriet. "I feel +like doing something devilish." + +"Well, let's!" exclaimed Elizabeth. + +"Do something devilish?" inquired Harriet. "What, for instance?" + +"Oh, 'most anything that we shouldn't do," replied Elizabeth, "and there +isn't anything that we could do down here alone that we should do." + +They both laughed. "I have it!" exclaimed Elizabeth suddenly. "We'll +be utterly abandoned--we'll have supper at Feinheimer's without an +escort." + +Harriet cast a horrified glance at her companion. "Why, Elizabeth +Compton," she cried, "you wouldn't dare. You know you wouldn't dare!" + +"Do you dare me?" asked the other. + +"But suppose some one should see us?" argued Harriet. "Your father +would never forgive us." + +"If we see any one in Feinheimer's who knows us," argued Elizabeth +shrewdly, "they will be just as glad to forget it as we. And anyway it +will do it no harm. I shall have David stay right outside the door +so that if I call him he can come. I don't know what I would do without +David. He is a sort of Rock of Ages and Gibraltar all in one." + +Through the speaking-tube Elizabeth directed David to drive to +Feinheimer's, and, whatever David may have thought of the order, he gave +no outward indication of it. + +Christmas Eve at Feinheimer's is, or was, a riot of unconfined hilarity, +although the code of ethics of the place was on a higher plane than that +which governed the Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve patrons of so-called +respectable restaurants, where a woman is not safe from insult even +though she be properly escorted, while in Feinheimer's a woman with an +escort was studiously avoided by the other celebrators unless she chose +to join with them. As there was only one class of women who came to +Feinheimer's at night without escort, the male habitues had no +difficulty in determining who they might approach and who they might +not. + +Jimmy Torrance was as busy as a cranberry merchant. He had four tables +to attend to, and while the amount of food he served grew more and more +negligible as the evening progressed, his trips to the bar were +exceedingly frequent. One of his tables had been vacated for a few minutes +when, upon his return from the bar with a round of drinks for Steve +Murray and his party he saw that two women had entered and were +occupying his fourth table. Their backs were toward him, and he gave +them but little attention other than to note that they were unescorted +and to immediately catalogue them accordingly. Having distributed Steve +Murray's order, Jimmy turned toward his new patrons, and, laying a menu +card before each, he stood between them waiting for their order. + +"What shall we take?" asked Elizabeth of Harriet. Then: "What have you +that's good?" and she looked up at the waiter. + +Jimmy prided himself upon self-control, and his serving at Feinheimer's +had still further schooled him in the repression of any outward +indication of his emotions. For, as most men of his class, he had a +well-defined conception of what constituted a perfect waiter, one of the +requisites being utter indifference to any of the affairs of his patrons +outside of those things which actually pertained to his duties as a +servitor; but in this instance Jimmy realized that he had come very +close to revealing the astonishment which he felt on seeing this girl in +Feinheimer's and unescorted. + +If Jimmy was schooled in self-control, Elizabeth Compton was equally so. +She recognized the waiter immediately, but not even by a movement of an +eyelid did she betray the fact; which may possibly be accounted for by +the fact that it meant little more to her than as though she had chanced +to see the same street-sweeper several times in succession, although +after he had left with their order she asked Harriet if she, too, had +recognized him. + +"Immediately," replied her friend. "It doesn't seem possible that such +a good-looking chap should be occupying such a menial position." + +"There must be something wrong with him," rejoined Elizabeth; "probably +utterly inefficient." + +"Or he may have some vice," suggested Harriet. + +"He doesn't look it," said Elizabeth. "He looks too utterly healthy for +that. We've seen some of these drug addicts in our own set, as you may +readily recall. No, I shouldn't say that he was that." + +"I suppose the poor fellow has never had an opportunity," said Harriet. +"He has a good face, his eyes and forehead indicate intelligence, and +his jaw is strong and aggressive. Probably, though, he was raised in +poverty and knows nothing better than what he is doing now. It is too +bad that some of these poor creatures couldn't have the advantages of +higher education." + +"Yes," said Elizabeth, "it is too bad. Take a man like that; with a +college education he could attain almost any decree of success he +chose." + +"He certainly could," agreed Harriet; and then suddenly: "Why, what's +the matter, Elizabeth? Your face is perfectly scarlet." + +The other girl tapped the floor with the toe of one boot impatiently. + +"That horrid creature at the next table just winked at me," she said +disgustedly. + +Harriet looked about in the direction her companion had indicated, to +see a large, overdressed man staring at them. There was a smirk on his +face, and as Harriet caught his eye she saw him rise and, to her horror, +realized that he was advancing toward their table. + +He stopped in front of them with his huge hands resting on the edge of +their table and looked down at Elizabeth. + +"Hello, kiddo!" he said. "What are you going to drink?" + +Elizabeth gave the man one look such as would utterly have frozen a male +from her own stratum of society, but it had as little effect upon Steve +Murray's self-assurance as the cork from a popgun would have on the +armored sides of a rhinoceros. + +"All right," said the man, "what's the use of asking? There's only one +thing when Steve Murray buys. Here, waiter," he yelled, pounding on the +table. The nearest waiter, who chanced not to be Jimmy, who was then in +the kitchen, came hurriedly forward. "Open up some wine," commanded +Murray. "Come on, boys! Bring your chairs over here," he continued, +addressing his companions; "let's have a little party." + +Elizabeth Compton rose. + +"You will oblige me," she said, "by leaving our table." + +Steve Murray laughed uproariously. He had dropped into a chair next to +hers. + +"That's great!" he cried. "I guess you don't know who I am, kiddo. You +won't cop off anything better in this joint than Steve Murray. Come +on--let's be friends. That's a good girl," and before Elizabeth +realized the man's intentions he had seized her wrist and pulled her +down into his lap. + +It was this scene that broke upon Jimmy's view as he emerged from the +kitchen with a laden tray. He saw Steve Murray seize the girl, and he +saw her struggling to free herself, and then there was a mighty crash as +Jimmy dropped the tray of steaming food upon the floor and ran quickly +forward. + +Murray was endeavoring to draw the girl's lips to his as Jimmy's hand +shot between their faces and pushed that of the man away. With his free +arm he encircled the girl's body and attempted to draw her from her +assailant. + +"Cut it, Murray!" he commanded in a low tone of voice. "She isn't your +sort." + +"Who the hell are you?" cried the labor leader, releasing the girl and +rising to his feet. "Get the hell out of here, you dirty hash-slinger! +Any girl in this place belongs to me if I want her. There don't only one +kind come in here without an escort, or with one, either, for that +matter. You get back on your job, where you belong," and the man pressed +forward trying to push Jimmy aside and lay hands on Elizabeth again. + +Jimmy did not strike him then. He merely placed the palm of one hand +against the man's breast and pushed him backward, but with such force +that, striking a chair, Steve Murray fell backward and sprawled upon the +floor. Scrambling to his feet, he rushed Jimmy like a mad bull. + +In his younger days Murray had been a boiler-maker, and he still +retained most of his great strength. He was a veritable mountain of a +man, and now in the throes of a berserker rage he was a formidable +opponent. His face was white and his lips were drawn back tightly, +exposing his teeth in a bestial snarl as he charged at Jimmy. His great +arms and huge hands beat to the right and left like enormous flails, one +blow from which might seemingly have felled an ox. + +Torrance had stood for a moment with an arm still around the girl; but +as Murray rose to his feet he pushed her gently behind him, and then as +the man was upon him Jimmy ducked easily under the other's clumsy left +and swung a heavy right hook to his jaw. As Murray staggered to the +impact of the blow Jimmy reached him again quickly and easily with a +left to the nose, from which a crimson burst spattered over the waiter +and his victim. Murray went backward and would have fallen but for the +fact he came in contact with one of his friends, and then he was at +Jimmy again. + +By this time waiters and patrons were crowding forward from all parts of +the room, and Feinheimer, shrieking at the top of his voice, was +endeavoring to worm his fat, toadlike body through the cordon of excited +spectators. The proprietor reached the scene of carnage just in time to +see Jimmy plant a lovely left on the point of Murray's jaw. + +The big man tottered drunkenly for an instant, his knees sagged, and, as +Jimmy stood in readiness for any eventuality, the other crashed heavily +to the floor. + +Towering above the others in the room suddenly came a big young fellow +shouldering his way through the crowd, a young man in the uniform of a +chauffeur. Elizabeth saw him before he discovered her. + +"Oh David!" she cried. "Quick! Quick! Take us out of here!" + +As the chauffeur reached her side and took in the scene he jerked his +head toward Jimmy. "Did any one hurt you miss?" + +"No, no!" she cried. "This man was very kind. Just get us out of here, +David, as quickly as you can." And, turning to Jimmy: "How can I ever +repay you? If it hadn't been for you--oh, I hate to think what would +have happened. Come out to the car and give David your name and address, +and I will send you something tomorrow." + +"Oh, that's all right," said Jimmy. "You just get out of here as quick +as you can. If the police happened to look in now you might be held as a +witness." + +"How utterly horrible!" exclaimed Elizabeth. "Come, David! Come, +Harriet!" David making a way for her, she started for the door. + +Harriet paused long enough to extend her hand to Jimmy. "It was +wonderfully brave of you," she said. "We could never do enough to repay +you. My name is Harriet Holden," and she gave him an address on Lake +Shore Drive. "If you will come Monday morning about ten o'clock," she +said, "I am sure that there is something we can do for you. If you want +a better position," she half suggested, "I know my father could help, +although he must never know about this to-night." + +"Thanks," said Jimmy, smiling. "It's awfully good of you, but you must +hurry now. There goes your friend." + +Feinheimer stood as one dazed, looking down at the bulk of his friend +and associate. + +"Mein Gott!" he cried. "What kind of a place you think I run, young +man?" He turned angrily on Jimmy. "What you think I hire you for? To +beat up my best customer?" + +"He got what was coming to him," said a soft feminine voice at Jimmy's +elbow. The man looked to see Little Eva standing at his side. "I didn't +think anybody could do that to Murray," she continued. "Lord, but it was +pretty. He's had it coming to him ever since I've known him, but the big +stiff had everybody around this joint buffaloed. He got away with +anything he started." + +Feinheimer looked at Little Eva disgustedly. + +"He's my best customer," he cried, "and a bum waiter comes along and +beats him up just when he is trying to have a little innocent sport on +Christmas Eve. You take off your apron, young man, and get your time. I +won't have no rough stuff in Feinheimer's." + +Jimmy shrugged his shoulders and grinned. + +"Shouldn't I wait to see if I can't do something more for Mr. Murray?" +he suggested. + +"You get out of here!" cried Feinheimer, "Get out of here or I'll call +the police." + +Jimmy laughed and took off his apron as he walked back to the servants' +coat-room. As he emerged again and crossed through the dining-room he +saw that Murray had regained consciousness and was sitting at a table +wiping the blood from his face with a wet napkin. As Murray's eyes fell +upon his late antagonist he half rose from his chair and shook his fist +at Jimmy. + +"I'll get you for this, young feller!" he yelled. "I'll get you yet, +and don't you forget it." + +"You just had me," Jimmy called back; "but it didn't seem to make you +very happy." + +He could still hear Murray fuming and cursing as he passed out into the +barroom, at the front of which was Feinheimer's office. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +UP OR DOWN? + +After Jimmy had received his check and was about to leave, a couple of +men approached him. + +"We seen that little mix-up in there," said one of them. "You handle +your mitts like you been there before." + +"Yes," said Jimmy, smiling, "I've had a little experience in the manly +art of self-defense." + +The two men were sizing him up. + +"Feinheimer can you?" asked one of them. Jimmy nodded affirmatively. +"Got anything else in view?" + +"No," said Jimmy. + +"How'd you like a job as one of Brophy's sparring partners?" + +"I wouldn't mind," said Jimmy. "What is there in it?" + +They named a figure that was entirely satisfactory to Jimmy. + +"Come over the day after Christmas," he was told, "and we'll give you a +trial." + +"I wonder," thought Jimmy as he started for home, "if I have gone up a +notch in the social scale or down a notch? From the view-point of the +underworld a pug occupies a more exalted position than a waiter; but-- +oh, well, a job's a job, and at least I won't have to look at that +greasy Feinheimer all day." + +At ten o'clock Monday Jimmy was at Young Brophy's training quarters, +for, although he had not forgotten Harriet Holden's invitation, he had +never seriously considered availing himself of her offer to help him to +a better position. While he had not found it difficult to accept the +rough friendship and assistance of the Lizard, the idea of becoming an +object of "charity," as he considered it, at the hands of a girl in the +same walk of life as that to which he belonged was intolerable. + +Young Brophy's manager, whom Jimmy discovered to be one of the men who +had accosted him in Feinheimer's after his trouble with Murray, took him +into a private office and talked with him confidentially for a half-hour +before he was definitely employed. + +It seemed that one of the principal requisites of the position was a +willingness to take punishment without attempting to inflict too much +upon Young Brophy. The manager did not go into specific details as to +the reason for this restriction, and Jimmy, badly in need of a job, felt +no particular inclination to search too deeply for the root of the +matter. + +"What I don't know," he soliloquized, "won't hurt me any." But he had +not been there many days before the piecing together of chance remarks +and the gossip of the hangers-on and other sparring partners made it +very apparent why Brophy should not be badly man-handled. As it finally +revealed itself to Jimmy it was very simple indeed. Brophy was to be +pitted against a man whom he had already out-pointed in a former bout. +He was the ruling favorite in the betting, and it was the intention to +keep him so while he and his backers quietly placed all their money on +the other man. + +One of the sparring partners who seemed to harbor a petty grudge against +Brophy finally explained the whole plan to Jimmy. Everything was to be +done to carry the impression to the public through the newspapers, who +were usually well represented at the training quarters, that Brophy was +in the pink of condition; that he was training hard; that it was +impossible to find men who could stand up to him on account of the +terrific punishment he inflicted upon his sparring partners; and that +the result of the fight was already a foregone conclusion; and then in +the third round Young Brophy was to lie down and by reclining peacefully +on his stomach for ten seconds make more money than several years of +hard and conscientious work earnestly performed could ever net him. + +It was all very, very simple; but how easily public opinion might be +changed should one of the sparring partners really make a good stand +against Brophy in the presence of members of the newspaper fraternity! + +"I see," said Jimmy, running his fingers through his hair. "Oh, well, +it's none of my business, and if the suckers want to bet their money on +a prize-fight they're about due to lose it anyway." + +And so he continued permitting himself to be battered up four or five +times a week at the hands of the pussy Mr. Brophy. He paid back the +twenty the Lizard had loaned him, got his watch out of pawn, and was +even figuring on a new suit of clothes. Never before in his life had +Jimmy realized what it meant to be prosperous, since for obvious reasons +Young Brophy's manager was extremely liberal in the matter of salaries +with all those connected with the training-camp. + +At first it had been rather humiliating to Jimmy to take the drubbings +he did at the hands of Young Brophy in the presence of the audience +which usually filled the small gymnasium where the fighter was training. +It was nearly always about the same crowd, however, made up of +dyed-in-the-wool fans, a few newspaper men, and a sprinkling of +thrill-seekers from other walks of life far removed from the prize-ring. +Jimmy often noticed women among the spectators--well-dressed women, +with every appearance of refinement, and there were always men of the +same upper class of society. + +He mentioned the fact once to the same young man who had previously +explained the plan under which the fight was to be faked. + +"That's just part of the graft," said his informant. "These birds have +got next to a bunch of would-be sports with more money than brains +through the athletic director of--" he mentioned the name of one of +the big athletic clubs--"and they been inviting 'em here to watch +Brophy training. Every one of the simps will be tryin' to get money down +on Brophy, and this bunch will take it all up as fast as they come. + +"The bettin' hasn't really started yet; in fact, they are holding off +themselves until the odds are better. If Brophy goes into the ring a +three-to-one favorite these fellows will make a killing that will be +talked of for the next twenty years." + +"And incidentally give boxing another black eye," interjected Jimmy. + +"Oh, what the hell do we care?" said the other. "I'm goin' to make mine +out of it, and you better do the same. I'm goin' to put up every cent I +can borrow or steal on the other guy." + +It was Saturday, the 15th of January, just a week before the fight, that +Jimmy, trained now almost to perfection, stepped into the ring to take +his usual mauling. For some time past there had been insidiously working +its way into his mind a vast contempt for the pugilistic prowess of +Young Brophy. + +"If," thought Jimmy, "this bird is of championship caliber, I might be a +champion myself." For, though Young Brophy was not a champion, the +newspapers had been pointing to him for some time as a likely possibility for +these pugilistic honors later. + +As this mental attitude grew within him and took hold of Jimmy it more +and more irked him to take the punishment which he inwardly felt he +could easily inflict upon Brophy instead, but, as Jimmy had learned +through lean and hungry months, a job is a job, and no job is to be +sneezed at or lightly thrown aside. + +There was quite a gathering that afternoon to watch Young Brophy's +work-out, and rather a larger representation than usual from society's +younger set. The program, which had consisted in part of shadow boxing +and bag punching by Young Brophy, was to terminate with three rounds +with Jimmy. + +For two rounds the young man had permitted Brophy to make a monkey of +him, hitting him where he would at will, while Jimmy, as a result of +several weeks of diligent practice, was able to put up apparently a very +ferocious attempt to annihilate his opponent without doing the latter +any material damage. + +At the close of the second round Brophy landed a particularly vicious +right, which dropped Jimmy to the canvas. The crowd applauded +vociferously, and as the gong sounded as Jimmy was slowly rising to his +feet they were all assured that it was all that had saved the young man +from an even worse thrashing. + +As Jimmy returned to his corner there arose within him a determination +to thrash Young Brophy within an inch of his life after the big fight +was out of the way and Jimmy no longer bound by any obligations, for he +realized that for some reason Brophy had just gone a little too far with +his rough tactics, there having been in the arrangement with the +sparring partners an understanding that when a knock-down was to be +staged Brophy was to give his opponent the cue. No cue had been given, +however. Jimmy had not been expecting it, and he had been floored with a +punch behind which were all the weight and brawn of the pugilist. + +He had long since ceased to consider what the spectators might think. +So far as Jimmy was concerned, they might have been so many chairs. He +was merely angry at the unnecessary punishment that had been inflicted. +As he sprawled in his corner he let his eyes run over the faces of the +spectators directly in front of him, to whom previously he had paid no +particular attention, and even now it was scarcely more than an +involuntary glance; but his eyes stopped suddenly upon a face, and as +recognition suddenly dawned upon him he could feel the hot blood rushing +to his own. For there was the girl whom Fate had thrice before thrown in +his path! Beside her he recognized the Miss Harriet Holden who had been +with her the night at Feinheimer's, and with them were two young men. + +Something within Jimmy Torrance rebelled to a point where it utterly +dominated him--rebelled at the thought that this girl, whom he had +unconsciously set upon a pedestal to worship from afar, should always +find him in some menial and humiliating position. It was bad enough that +she should see him as a sparring partner of a professional pug, but it +made it infinitely worse that she should see him as what he must appear, +an unsuccessful third or fourth rate fighter. + +Everything within Jimmy's mind turned suddenly topsyturvy. He seemed to +lose all sense of proportion and all sense of value in one overpowering +thought, that he must not again be humiliated in her presence. + +And so it was that at the tap of the gong for the third round it was not +Torrance the sparring partner that advanced from his corner, but Jimmy +Torrance, champion heavyweight boxer of a certain famous university. But +why enter into the harrowing details of the ensuing minute and a half? + +In thirty seconds it was unquestionably apparent to every one in the +room, including Young Brophy himself, that the latter was pitifully +outclassed. Jimmy hit him whenever and wherever he elected to hit, and +he hit him hard, while Brophy, at best only a second or third rate +fighter, pussy and undertrained, was not only unable to elude the blows +of his adversary but equally so to land effectively himself. + +And there before the eyes of half a dozen newspaper reporters, of a +dozen wealthy young men who had fully intended to place large sums on +Brophy, and before the eyes of his horrified manager and backer, Jimmy, +at the end of ninety seconds, landed a punch that sent the flabby Mr. +Brophy through the ropes and into dreamland for a much longer period +than the requisite ten seconds. + +Before Jimmy got dressed and out of the gymnasium he, with difficulty, +escaped a half-dozen more fistic encounters, as everybody from the +manager down felt that his crime deserved nothing short of capital +punishment. He had absolutely wrecked a perfectly good scheme in the +perfection of which several thousand dollars had been spent, and now +there could not be even the possibility of a chance of their breaking +even. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +HARRIET PHILOSOPHIZES. + +When Jimmy got home that night he saw a light in the Lizard's room and +entered. + +"Well," said the cracksman, "how's every little thing?" + +Jimmy smiled ruefully. + +"Canned again," he announced, and then he told the Lizard the story of +his downfall, attributing the results of the third round, however, to +Brophy's unwarranted action at the end of the second. + +"Well," said the Lizard, "you certainly are the champion boob. There +you had a chance to cop off a nice bunch of coin on that fight and +instead you kill it for yourself and everybody else." + +"You don't think," said Jimmy, "that I would have put any money on that +crooked scrap." + +"Why not?" asked the Lizard, and then he shook his head sadly. "No, I +don't suppose you would. There's lots of things about you that I can't +understand, and one of them is the fact that you would rather starve to +death than take a little easy money off of birds that have got more than +they got any business to have. Why, with your education and front we two +could pull off some of the classiest stuff that this burg ever saw." + +"Forget it," admonished Jimmy. + +"What are you going to do now?" asked the Lizard. + +"Go out and hunt for another job," said Jimmy. + +"Well, I wish you luck," said the Lizard. + +"Maybe I can find something for you. I'll try, and in the mean time if +you need any mazuma I always got a little roll tucked away in my sock." + +"Thanks," said Jimmy, "and I don't mind telling you that you're the one +man I know whom I'd just as soon borrow from and would like the +opportunity of loaning to. You say that you can't understand me, and yet +you're a whole lot more of an enigma yourself! You admit, in fact, +you're inclined to boast, that you're a pickpocket and a safe-blower and +yet I'd trust you, Lizard, with anything that I had." + +The Lizard smiled, and for the first time since he had known him Jimmy +noticed that his eyes smiled with his lips. + +"I've always had the reputation," said the Lizard, "of being a white guy +with my friends. As a matter of fact, I ain't no different from what +you'd probably be if you were in business and what most of your friends +are. Morally they're a bunch of thieves and crooks. Of course, they +don't go out and frisk any one and they don't work with a jimmy or a +bottle of soup. They work their graft with the help of contracts and +lawyers, and they'd gyp a friend or a pauper almost as soon as they +would an enemy. I don't know much about morality, but when it comes +right down to a question of morals I believe my trade is just as decent +as that of a lot of these birds you see rolling up and down Mich Boul in +their limousines." + +"It's all in the point of view," said Jimmy. + +"Yes," said the Lizard. "It's all in the point of view, and my point of +view ain't warped by no college education." + +Jimmy grinned. "Eventually, Lizard, you may win me over; but when you +do why fritter away our abilities upon this simple village when we have +the capitals of all Europe to play around in?" + +"There's something in that," said the Lizard; "but don't get it into +your head for a minute that I am tryin' to drag you from the straight +and narrow. I think I like you better the way you are." + +"Did you ever," said Harriet Holden, "see anything so weird as the way +we keep bumping into that stocking-counter young man?" + +"No," said Elizabeth, "it's commencing to get on my nerves. Every time +I turn a corner now I expect to bump into him. I suppose we see other +people many times without recognizing them, but he is so utterly +good-looking that he sort of sticks in one's memory." + +"Do you know," said Harriet, "that I have a suspicion that he recognized +us. I saw him looking up at us just after that other person knocked him +down and I could have sworn that he blushed. And then, you know, he went +in and was entirely different from what he had been in the two preceding +rounds. Billy said that he is really a wonderful fighter, and there are +not very many good fights that Billy misses. What in the world do you +suppose his profession is anyway? Since we first noticed him he has been +a hosiery clerk, a waiter, and a prize-fighter." + +"I don't know, I am sure," said Elizabeth, yawning. "You seem to be +terribly interested in him." + +"I am," admitted Harriet frankly. "He's a regular adventure all in +himself--a whole series of adventures." + +"I've never been partial to serials," said Elizabeth. + +"Well, I should think one would be a relief after a whole winter of +heavy tragedy," retorted Harriet. + +"What do you mean?" asked Elizabeth. + +"Oh, I mean Harold, of course," said Harriet. "He's gone around all +winter with a grouch and a face a mile long. What's the matter with him +anyway?" + +"I don't know," sighed Elizabeth. "I'm afraid he's working too hard." + +Harriet giggled. + +"Oh, fiddlesticks!" she exclaimed. "You know perfectly well that +Harold Bince will never work himself to death." + +"Well, he is working hard, Harriet. Father says so. And he's worrying +about the business, too. He's trying so hard to make good." + +"I will admit that he has stuck to his job more faithfully than anybody +expected him to." + +Elizabeth turned slowly upon her friend, "You don't like Harold," she +said; "why is it?" + +Harriet shook her head. + +"I do like him, Elizabeth, for your sake. I suppose the trouble is that +I realize that he is not good enough for you. I have known him all my +life, and even as a little child he was never sincere. Possibly he has +changed now. I hope so. And then again I know as well as you do that you +are not in love with him." + +"How perfectly ridiculous!" cried Elizabeth. "Do you suppose that I +would marry a man whom I didn't love?" + +"You haven't the remotest idea what love is. You've never been in +love." + +"Have you?" asked Elizabeth. + +"No," replied Harriet, "I haven't, but I know the symptoms and you +certainly haven't got one of them. Whenever Harold isn't going to be up +for dinner or for the evening you're always relieved. Possibly you don't +realize it yourself, but you show it to any one who knows you." + +"Well, I do love him," insisted Elizabeth, "and I intend to marry him. +I never had any patience with this silly, love-sick business that +requires people to pine away when they are not together and bore +everybody else to death when they were." + +"All of which proves," said Harriet, "that you haven't been stung yet, +and I sincerely hope that you may never be unless it happens before you +marry Harold." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +IN AGAIN--OUT AGAIN. + +Jimmy Torrance was out of a job a week this time, and once more he was +indebted to the Lizard for a position, the latter knowing a politician +who was heavily interested in a dairy company, with the result that +Jimmy presently found himself driving a milk-wagon. Jimmy's route was on +the north side, which he regretted, as it was in the district where a +number of the friends of his former life resided. His delivery schedule, +however, and the fact that his point of contact with the homes of his +customers was at the back door relieved him of any considerable +apprehension of being discovered by an acquaintance. + +His letters home were infrequent, for he found that his powers of +invention were being rapidly depleted. It was difficult to write glowing +accounts of the business success he was upon the point of achieving on +the strength of any of the positions he so far had held, and doubly so +during the far greater period that he had been jobless and hungry. But +he had not been able to bring himself to the point of admitting to his +family his long weeks of consistent and unrelieved failure. + +Recently he had abandoned his futile attempts to obtain positions +through the medium of the Help Wanted columns. + +"It is no use," he thought. "There must be something inherently wrong +with me that in a city full of jobs I am unable to land anything without +some sort of a pull and then only work that any unskilled laborer could +perform." + +The truth of the matter was that Jimmy Torrance was slowly approaching +that mental condition that is aptly described by the phrase, "losing +your grip," one of the symptoms of which was the fact that he was almost +contented with his present job. + +He had driven for about a week when, upon coming into the barn after +completing his morning delivery, he was instructed to take a special +order to a certain address on Lake Shore Drive. Although the address was +not that of one of his regular customers he felt that there was +something vaguely familiar about it, but when he finally arrived he +realized that it was a residence at which he had never before called. + +Driving up the alley Jimmy stopped in the rear of a large and +pretentious home, and entering through a gateway in a high stone wall he +saw that the walk to the rear entrance bordered a very delightful +garden. He realized what a wonderfully pretty little spot it must be in +the summer time, with its pool and fountain and tree-shaded benches, its +vine-covered walls and artistically arranged shrubs, and it recalled to +Jimmy with an accompanying sigh the homes in which he had visited in +what seemed now a remote past, and also of his own home in the West. + +On the alley in one corner of the property stood a garage and stable, in +which Jimmy could see men working upon the owner's cars and about the +box-stalls of his saddle horses. At the sight of the horses Jimmy heaved +another sigh as he continued his way to the rear entrance. As he stood +waiting for a reply to his summons he glanced back at the stable to see +that horses had just entered and that their riders were dismounting, +evidently two of the women of the household, and then a houseman opened +the door and Jimmy made his delivery and started to retrace his steps to +his wagon. + +Approaching him along the walk from the stable were the riders--two +young women, laughing and talking as they approached the house, and +suddenly Jimmy, in his neat white suit, carrying his little tray of +milk-bottles, recognized them, and instantly there flashed into +recollection the address that Harriet Holden had given him that night at +Feinheimer's. + +"What infernal luck," he groaned inwardly; "I suppose the next time I +see that girl I'll be collecting garbage from her back door." And then, +with his eyes straight to the front, he stepped aside to let the two +pass. + +It was Harriet Holden who recognized him first, and stopped with a +little exclamation of surprise. Jimmy stopped, too. There was nothing +else that a gentleman might do, although he would have given his right +hand to have been out of the yard. + +"You never came to the house as I asked you to," said Miss Holden +reproachfully. "We wanted so much to do something to repay you for your +protection that night." + +"There was no use in my coming," said Jimmy, "for, you see, I couldn't +have accepted anything for what I did--I couldn't very well have done +anything else, could I, under the circumstances?" + +"There were many other men in the place," replied Harriet, "but you were +the only one who came to our help." + +"But the others were not---" Jimmy been upon the point of saying +gentlemen, but then he happened to think that in the eyes of these two +girls, and according to their standard, he might not be a gentleman, +either. "Well, you see," he continued lamely, "they probably didn't know +who you were." + +"Did you?" asked Elizabeth. + +"No," Jimmy admitted, "of course, I didn't know who you were, but I knew +what you were not, which was the thing that counted most then." + +"I wish," said Harriet, "that you would let us do something for you." + +"Yes," said Elizabeth, "if a hundred dollars would be of any use to +you--" Harriet laid a hand quickly on her friend's arm. + +"I wasn't thinking of money," she said to Jimmy. "One can't pay for +things like that with money, but we know so many people here we might +help you in some way, if you are not entirely satisfied with your +present position." + +Out of the corner of his eye Jimmy could not help but note that +Elizabeth was appraising him critically from head to foot and he felt +that he could almost read what was passing through her mind as she took +stock of his cheap cotton uniform and his cap, with the badge of his +employer above the vizor. Involuntarily Jimmy straightened his shoulders +and raised his chin a trifle. + +"No, thank you," he said to Harriet, "it is kind of you, but really I am +perfectly satisfied with my present job. It is by far the best one I +have ever held," and touching his cap, he continued his interrupted way +to his wagon. + +"What a strange young man," exclaimed Harriet. "He is like many of his +class," replied Elizabeth, "probably entirely without ambition and with +no desire to work any too hard or to assume additional +responsibilities." + +"I don't believe it," retorted Harriet. "Unless I am greatly mistaken, +that man is a gentleman. Everything about him indicates it; his +inflection even is that of a well-bred man." + +"How utterly silly," exclaimed Elizabeth. "You've heard him speak +scarcely a dozen words. I venture to say that in a fifteen-minute +conversation he would commit more horrible crimes against the king's +English than even that new stable-boy of yours. Really, Harriet, you +seem very much interested in this person." + +"Why shouldn't I be?" asked Harriet. "He's becoming my little pet +mystery. I wonder under what circumstances we see him next?" + +"Probably as a white-wings," laughed Elizabeth. "But if so I positively +refuse to permit you to stop in the middle of Michigan Boulevard and +converse with a street-sweeper while I'm with you." + +Jimmy's new job lasted two weeks, and then the milk-wagon drivers went +on strike and Jimmy was thrown out of employment. + +"Tough luck," sympathized the Lizard. "You sure are the Calamity Kid. +But don't worry, we'll land you something else. And remember that that +partnership proposition is still open." + +There ensued another month of idleness, during which Jimmy again had +recourse to the Help Wanted column. The Lizard tried during the first +week to find something for him, and then occurred a certain very famous +safe-robbery, and the Lizard disappeared. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +LITTLE EVA. + +Early in March Jimmy was again forced to part with his watch. As he was +coming out of the pawn-shop late in the afternoon he almost collided +with Little Eva. + +"For the love of Mike!" cried that young lady, "where have you been all +this time, and what's happened to you? You look as though you'd lost +your last friend." And then noting the shop from which he had emerged +and the deduction being all too obvious, she laid one of her shapely +hands upon the sleeve of his cheap, ill-fitting coat. "You're up against +it, kid, ain't you?" she asked. + +"Oh, it's nothing," said Jimmy ruefully. "I'm getting used to it." + +"I guess you're too square," said the girl. "I heard about that Brophy +business." And then she laughed softly. "Do you know who the biggest +backers of that graft were?" + +"No," said Jimmy. + +"Well, don't laugh yourself to death," she admonished. "They were Steve +Murray and Feinheimer. Talk about sore pups! You never saw anything like +it, and when they found who it was that had ditched their wonderful +scheme they threw another fit. Say, those birds have been weeping on +each other's shoulders ever since." + +"Do you still breakfast at Feinheimer's?" asked Jimmy. + +"Once in a while," said the girl, "but not so often now." And she +dropped her eyes to the ground in what, in another than Little Eva, +might have been construed as embarrassment. "Where you going now?" she +asked quickly. + +"To eat," said Jimmy, and then prompted by the instincts of his earlier +training and without appreciable pause: "Won't you take dinner with me?" +"No," said the girl, "but you are going to take dinner with me. You're +out of a job and broke, and the chances are you've just this minute +hocked your watch, while I have plenty of money. No," she said as Jimmy +started to protest, "this is going to be on me. I never knew how much I +enjoyed talking with you at breakfast until after you had left +Feinheimer's. I've been real lonesome ever since," she admitted frankly. +"You talk to me different from what the other men do." She pressed his +arm gently. "You talk to me, kid, just like a fellow might talk to his +sister." + +Jimmy didn't know just what rejoinder to make, and so he made none. As +a matter of fact, he had not realized that he had said or done anything +to win her confidence, nor could he explain his attitude toward her in +the light of what he knew of her life and vocation. There is a type of +man that respects and reveres woman-hood for those inherent virtues +which are supposed to be the natural attributes of the sex because in +their childhood they have seen them exemplified in their mothers, their +sisters and in the majority of women and girls who were parts of the +natural environment of their early lives. + +It is difficult ever entirely to shatter the faith of such men, and +however they may be wronged by individuals of the opposite sex their +subjective attitude toward woman in the abstract is one of chivalrous +respect. As far as outward appearances were concerned Little Eva might +have passed readily as a paragon of all the virtues. As yet, there was +no sign nor line of dissipation marked upon her piquant face, nor in her +consociation with Jimmy was there ever the slightest reference to or +reminder of her vocation. + +They chose a quiet and eminently respectable dining place, and after +they had ordered, Jimmy spread upon the table an evening paper he had +purchased upon the street. + +"Help me find a job," he said to the girl, and together the two ran +through the want columns. + +"Here's a bunch of them," cried the girl laughingly, "all in one ad. +Night cook, one hundred and fifty dollars; swing man, one hundred and +forty dollars; roast cook, one hundred and twenty dollars; broiler, one +hundred and twenty dollars. I'd better apply for that. Fry cook, one +hundred and ten dollars. Oh, here's something for Steve Murray: chicken +butcher, eighty dollars; here's a job I'd like," she cried, "ice-cream +man, one hundred dollars." + +"Quit your kidding," said Jimmy. "I'm looking for a job, not an +acrostic." + +"Well," she said, "here are two solid pages of them, but nobody seems to +want a waiter. What else can you do?" she asked smiling up at him. + +"I can drive a milk-wagon," said Jimmy, "but the drivers are all on +strike." + +"Now, be serious," she announced. "Let's look for something really good. +Here's somebody wants a finishing superintendent for a string music +instrument factory, and a business manager and electrical engineer in +this one. What's an efficiency expert?" + +"Oh, he's a fellow who gums up the works, puts you three weeks behind in +less than a week and has all your best men resigning inside of a month. +I know, because my dad had one at his plant a few years ago." + +The girl looked at him for a moment. "Your father is a business man?" +she asked, and without waiting for an answer, "Why don't you work for +him?" + +It was the first reference that Jimmy had ever made to his connections +or his past. + +"Oh," he said, "he's a long way off and--if I'm no good to any one here +I certainly wouldn't be any good to him." + +His companion made no comment, but resumed her reading of the +advertisement before her: + + + + WANTED, an Efficiency Expert--Machine works + wants man capable of thoroughly reorganizing large + business along modern lines, stopping leaks and + systematizing every activity. Call International + Machine Company, West Superior Street. Ask for + Mr. Compton. + + + +"What do you have to know to be an efficiency expert?" asked the girl. + +"From what I saw of the bird I just mentioned the less one knows about +anything the more successful he should be as an efficiency expert, for +he certainly didn't know anything. And yet the results from kicking +everybody in the plant out of his own particular rut eventually worked +wonders for the organization. If the man had had any sense, tact or +diplomacy nothing would have been accomplished." + +"Why don't you try it?" asked the girl. + +Jimmy looked at her with a quizzical smile. "Thank you," he said. + +"Oh, I didn't mean it that way," she cried. "But from what you tell me +I imagine that all a man needs is a front and plenty of punch. You've +got the front all right with your looks and gift of gab, and I leave it +to Young Brophy if you haven't got the punch." + +"Maybe that's not the punch an efficiency expert needs," suggested +Jimmy. + +"It might be a good thing to have up his sleeve," replied the girl, and +then suddenly, "do you believe in hunches?" + +"Sometimes," replied Jimmy. + +"Well, this is a hunch, take it from me," she continued. "I'll bet you +can land that job and make good." + +"What makes you think so?" asked Jimmy. + +"I don't know," she replied, "but you know what a woman's intuition is." + +"I suppose," said Jimmy, "that it's the feminine of hunch. But however +good your hunch or intuition may be it would certainly get a terrible +jolt if I presented myself to the head of the International Machine +Company in this scenery. Do you see anything about my clothes that +indicates efficiency?" + +"It isn't your clothes that count, Jimmy," she said, "it's the +combination of that face of yours and what you've got in your head. +You're the most efficient looking person I ever saw, and if you want a +reference I'll say this much for you, you're the most efficient waiter +that Feinheimer ever had. He said so himself, even after he canned you." + +"Your enthusiasm," said Jimmy, "is contagious. If it wasn't for these +sorry rags of mine I'd take a chance on that hunch of yours." + +The girl laid her hand impulsively upon his. + +"Won't you let me help you?" she asked. "I'd like to, and it will only +be a loan if you wanted to look at it that way. Enough to get you a +decent-looking outfit, such an outfit as you ought to have to land a +good job. I know, and everybody else knows, that clothes do count no +matter what we say to the contrary. I'll bet you're some looker when +you're dolled up! Please," she continued, "just try it for a gamble?" + +"I don't see how I can," he objected. "The chances are I could never +pay you back, and there is no reason in the world why you should loan me +money. You are certainly under no obligation to me." + +"I wish you would let me, Jimmy," she said. "It would make me awfully +happy!" + +The man hesitated. + +"Oh," she said, "I'm going to do it, anyway. Wait a minute," and, +rising, she left the table. + +In a few minutes she returned. "Here," she said, "you've got to take +it," and extended her hand toward him beneath the edge of the table. "I +can't," said Jimmy. "It wouldn't be right." + +The girl looked at him and flushed. + +"Do you mean," she said, "because it's my--because of what I am?" + +"Oh, no," said Jimmy; "please don't think that!" And impulsively he +took her hand beneath the table. At the contact the girl caught her +breath with a little quick-drawn sigh. + +"Here, take it!" she said, and drawing her hand away quickly, left a +roll of bills in Jimmy's hand. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +JIMMY THROWS A BLUFF. + +That afternoon Mr. Harold Bince had entered his superior's office with +an afternoon paper in his hand. + +"What's the idea of this ad, Mr. Compton?" he asked. "Why do we need an +efficiency expert? I wish you had let me know what you intended doing." + +"I knew that if I told you, Harold, you would object," said the older +man, "and I thought I would have a talk with several applicants before +saying anything about it to any one. Of course, whoever we get will work +with you, but I would rather not have it generally known about the +plant. There seems to be a leak somewhere and evidently we are too close +to the work to see it ourselves. It will require an outsider to discover +it." + +"I am very much opposed to the idea," said Bince. "These fellows usually +do nothing more than disrupt an organization. We have a force that has +been here, many of them, for years. There is as little lost motion in +this plant as in any in the country, and if we start in saddling these +men with a lot of red tape which will necessitate their filling out +innumerable forms for every job, about half their time will be spent in +bookkeeping, which can just as well be done here in the office as it is +now. I hope that you will reconsider your intention and let us work out +our own solution in a practical manner, which we can do better in the +light of our own experience than can an outsider who knows nothing of +our peculiar problems." + +"We will not permit the organization to be disrupted," replied Mr. +Compton. "It may do a lot of good to get a new angle on our problems and +at least it will do no harm." + +"I can't agree with you," replied Bince. "I think it will do a lot of +harm." + +Compton looked at his watch. "It is getting late, Harold," he said, +"and this is pay-day. I should think Everett could help you with the +pay-roll." Everett was the cashier. + +"I prefer to do it myself," replied Bince. "Everett has about all he +can do, and anyway, I don't like to trust it to any one else." And +realizing that Compton did not care to discuss the matter of the +efficiency expert further Bince returned to his own office. + +The following afternoon the office boy entered Mr. Compton's office. "A +gentleman to see you, sir," he announced. "He said to tell you that he +came in reply to your advertisement." + +"Show him in," instructed Compton, and a moment later Jimmy entered--a +rehabilitated Jimmy. Upon his excellent figure the ready-made suit had +all the appearance of faultlessly tailored garments. Compton looked up +at his visitor, and with the glance he swiftly appraised Jimmy--a +glance that assured him that here might be just the man he wanted, for +intelligence, aggressiveness and efficiency were evidently the +outstanding characteristics of the young man before him. After Jimmy had +presented himself the other motioned him to a chair. + +"I am looking," said Mr. Compton, "for an experienced man who can come +in here and find out just what is wrong with us. We have an +old-established business which has been making money for years. We are +taking all the work that we can possibly handle at the highest prices we +have ever received, and yet our profits are not at all commensurate with +the volume of business. It has occurred to me that an experienced man +from the outside would be able to more quickly put his finger on the +leaks and stop them. Now tell me just what your experience has been and +we will see if we can come to some understanding." + +From his pocket Jimmy drew a half-dozen envelopes, and taking the +contents from them one by one laid them on the desk before Mr. Compton. +On the letter-heads of half a dozen large out-of-town manufacturers in +various lines were brief but eulogistic comments upon the work done in +their plants by Mr. James Torrance, Jr. As he was reading them Mr. +Compton glanced up by chance to see that the face of the applicant was +slightly flushed, which he thought undoubtedly due to the fact that the +other knew he was reading the words of praise contained in the letters, +whereas the truth of the matter was that Jimmy's color was heightened by +a feeling of guilt. + +"These are very good," said Mr. Compton, looking up from the letters. "I +don't know that I need go any further. A great deal depends on a man's +personality in a position of this sort, and from your appearance I +should imagine that you're all right along that line and you seem to +have had the right kind of experience. Now, what arrangement can we +make?" + +Jimmy had given the matter of pay considerable thought, but the trouble +was that he did not know what an efficiency expert might be expected to +demand. He recalled vaguely that the one his father had employed got +something like ten dollars a day, or one hundred a day, Jimmy couldn't +remember which, and so he was afraid that he might ask too much and lose +the opportunity, or too little and reveal that he had no knowledge of +the value of such services. + +"I would rather leave that to you," he said. "What do you think the work +would be worth to you?" + +"Do you expect to continue in this line of work?" asked Mr. Compton. +"When this job is finished you would want to go somewhere else, I +suppose?" + +Jimmy saw an opening and leaped for it. "Oh, no!" he replied. "On the +contrary, I wouldn't mind working into a permanent position, and if you +think there might be a possibility of that I would consider a reasonable +salary arrangement rather than the usual contract rate for expert +service." + +"It is very possible," said Mr. Compton, "that if you are the right man +there would be a permanent place in the organization for you. With that +idea in mind I should say that two hundred and fifty dollars a month +might be a mutually fair arrangement to begin with." + +Two hundred and fifty dollars a month! Jimmy tried to look bored, but +not too bored. + +"Of course," he said, "with the idea that it may become a permanent, +well-paying position I think I might be inclined to consider it--in +fact, I am very favorably inclined toward it," he added hastily as he +thought he noted a sudden waning of interest in Compton's expression. +"But be sure yourself that I am the man you want. For instance, my +methods--you should know something of them first." + +In Jimmy's pocket was a small book he had purchased at a second-hand +bookshop the evening before, upon the cover of which appeared the title +"How to Get More Out of Your Factory." He had not had sufficient time to +study it thoroughly, but had succeeded in memorizing several principal +headings on the contents page. + +"At first," he explained, "I won't seem to be accomplishing much, as I +always lay the foundation of my future work by studying my men. Some men +have that within them which spurs them on; while some need artificial +initiative--outside encouragement," he quoted glibly from "How to Get +More Out of Your Factory." "Some men extend themselves under stern +discipline; some respond only to a gentle rein. I study men--the men +over me, under me, around me. I study them and learn how to get from +each the most that is in him. At the same time I shall be looking for +leaks and investigating timekeeping methods, wage-paying systems and +planning on efficiency producers. Later I shall start reducing costs by +studying machines, handling material economically and producing power at +lowest cost; keeping the product moving, making environment count on the +balance-sheet and protecting against accident and fire." This was as far +as Jimmy had memorized, and so he stopped. + +"I think," said Mr. Compton, "that you have the right idea. Some of +your points are not entirely clear to me, as there are many modern +methods that I have not, I am sorry to say, investigated sufficiently." + +Jimmy did not think it necessary to explain that they were not clear to +him either. + +"And now," said Compton, "if you are satisfied with the salary, when can +you start?" + +Jimmy rose with a brisk and businesslike manner. "I am free now," he +said, "with the exception of a little personal business which I can +doubtless finish up tomorrow--suppose I come Thursday?" + +"Good," exclaimed Compton, "but before you go I want you to meet our +assistant general manager, Mr. Bince." And he led Jimmy toward Bince's +office. + +"This is Mr. Torrance, Harold," said Mr. Compton as they entered. "Mr. +Bince, Mr. Torrance. Mr. Torrance is going to help us systematize the +plant. He will report directly to me and I know you will do everything +in your power to help him. You can go to Mr. Bince for anything in the +way of information you require, and Harold, when Mr. Torrance comes +Thursday I wish you would introduce him to Everett and the various +department heads and explain that they are to give him full cooperation. +And now, as I have an appointment, I shall have to ask you to excuse me. +I will see you Thursday. If there are any questions you want to ask, Mr. +Bince will be glad to give you any information you wish or care for." + +Jimmy had felt from the moment that he was introduced to Bince that the +latter was antagonistic and now that the two were alone together he was +not long left in doubt as to the correctness of his surmise. As soon as +the door had closed behind Mr. Compton Bince wheeled toward Jimmy. + +"I don't mind telling you, Mr. Torrance," he said, "that I consider the +services of an expert absolutely unnecessary, but if Mr. Compton wishes +to experiment I will interfere in no way and I shall help you all I can, +but I sincerely hope that you, on your part, will refrain from +interfering with my activities. As a matter of fact, you won't have to +leave this office to get all the information you need, and if you will +come to me I can make it easy for you to investigate the entire workings +of the plant and save you a great deal of unnecessary personal labor. I +suppose that you have had a great deal of experience along this line?" + +Jimmy nodded affirmatively. + +"Just how do you purpose proceeding?" + +"Oh, well," said Jimmy, "each one of us really has a system of his own. +At first I won't seem to be accomplishing much, as I always lay the +foundation of my future work by studying my men. Some men have that +within them which spurs them on; while some need artificial +initiative--outside encouragement." He hoped that the door to Compton's +office was securely closed. + +"Some men extend themselves under stern discipline; some respond only to +a gentle rein. I study men--the men over me, under me, around me. I +study them and learn how to get from each the most that is in him. At +the same time I shall be looking for leaks and investigating +time-keeping methods"--he was looking straight at Bince and he could +not help but note the slight narrowing of the other's lids-- +"wage-paying systems and planning on efficiency producers." + +Here he hesitated a moment as though weighing his words, though as a +matter of fact he had merely forgotten the title of the next chapter, +but presently he went on again: + +"Later I shall start reducing costs by studying machines, handling +material economically and producing power at lowest costs: keeping the +product moving, making environment count on the balance-sheet and +protecting against accident and fire." + +"Is that all?" asked Mr. Bince. + +"Oh, no, indeed!" said Jimmy. "That's just a very brief outline of the +way I shall start." + +"Ah!" said Mr. Bince. "And just how, may I ask, do you make environment +count on the balance-sheet? I do not quite understand." + +Jimmy was mentally gasping and going down for the third time. He had +wondered when he read that chapter title just what it might mean. + +"Oh," he said, "you will understand that thoroughly when we reach that +point. It is one of the steps in my method. Other things lead up to it. +It is really rather difficult to explain until we have a concrete +example, something that you can really visualize, you know. But I assure +you that it will be perfectly plain to you when we arrive at that point. + +"And now," he said, rising, "I must be going. I have a great deal to +attend to this afternoon and to-morrow, as I wish to get some personal +matters out of the way before I start in here Thursday." + +"All right," said Mr. Bince, "I suppose we shall see you Thursday, but +just bear in mind, please, that you and I can work better together than +at cross-purposes." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +JIMMY ON THE JOB. + +As Jimmy left the office he discovered that those last words of Bince's +had made a considerable and a rather unfavorable impression on him. He +was sure that there was an underlying meaning, though just what it +portended he was unable to imagine. + +From the International Machine Company Jimmy went directly to the +restaurant where he and Little Eva had dined the night before. He found +her waiting for him, as they had agreed she would. + +"Well, what luck?" she asked as he took the chair next to her. + +"Oh, I landed the job all right," said Jimmy, "but I feel like a crook. +I don't know how in the world I ever came to stand for those letters of +recommendation. They were the things that got me the job all right, but +I honestly feel just as though I had stolen something." + +"Don't feel that way," said the girl. "You'll make good, I know, and +then it won't make any difference about the letters." + +"And now," said Jimmy, "tell me where you got them. You promised me that +you would tell me afterward." + +"Oh," said the girl, "that was easy. A girl who rooms at the same place +I do works in a big printing and engraving plant and I got her to get me +some samples of letterheads early this morning. In fact, I went +down-town with her when she went to work and then I went over to the +Underwood offices and wrote the recommendations out on a machine--I +used to be a stenographer." + +"And you forged these names?" asked Jimmy, horrified. + +"I didn't forge anybody's name," replied the girl. "I made them up." + +"You mean there are no such men?" + +"As far as I know there are not," she replied, laughing. + +Slowly Jimmy drew the letters from his inside pocket and read them one +by one, spreading them out upon the table before him. Presently he +looked up at the girl. + +"Why don't you get a position again as a stenographer?" he asked. + +"I have been thinking of it," she said; "do you want me to?" + +"Yes," he said, "I want you to very much." + +"It will be easy," she said. "There is no reason why I shouldn't except +that there was no one ever cared what I did." + +As she finished speaking they were both aware that a man had approached +their table and stopped opposite them. Jimmy and the girl looked up to +see a large man in a dark suit looking down at Eva. Jimmy did not +recognize the man, but he knew at once what he was. + +"Well, O'Donnell, what's doing?" asked the girl. + +"You know what's doing," said the officer. "How miny toimes do the +capt'in have to be afther isshuin' orrders tellin' you janes to kape out +uv dacent places?" + +The girl flushed. "I'm not working here," she said. + +"To hell ye ain't," sneered O'Donnell. "Didn't I see ye flag this guy +whin he came in?" + +"This young lady is a friend of mine," said Jimmy. "I had an +appointment to meet her here." + +O'Donnell shifted his gaze from the girl to her escort and for the first +time appraised Jimmy thoroughly. "Oh, it's you, is it?" he asked. + +"It is," said Jimmy; "you guessed it the first time, but far be it from +me to know what you have guessed, as I never saw you before, my friend." + +"Well, I've seen you before," said O'Donnell, "and ye put one over on me +that time all roight, I can see now. I don't know what your game was, +but you and the Lizard played it pretty slick when you could pull the +wool over Patrick O'Donnell's eyes the way ye done." + +"Oh," said Jimmy, "I've got you now. You're the bull who interfered +with my friend and me on Randolph and La Salle way back last July." + +"I am," said O'Donnell, "and I thought ye was a foine young gentleman, +and you are a foine one," he said with intense sarcasm. + +"Go away and leave us alone," said the girl. "We're not doing anything. +We ate in here last night together. This man is perfectly respectable. +He isn't what you think him, at all." + +"I'm not going to pinch him," said O'Donnell; "I ain't got nothin' to +pinch him for, but the next time I see him I'll know him." + +"Well," said the girl, "are you going to beat it or are you going to +stick around here bothering us all evening? There hasn't anybody +registered a complaint against me in here." + +"Naw," said O'Donnell, "they ain't, but you want to watch your step or +they will." + +"All right," said the girl, "run along and sell your papers." And she +turned again to Jimmy, and as though utterly unconscious of the presence +of the police officer, she remarked, "That big stiff gives me a pain. +He's the original Buttinsky Kid." + +O'Donnell flushed. "Watch your step, young lady," he said as he turned +and walked away. + +"I thought," said Jimmy, "that it was the customary practise to attempt +to mollify the guardians of the law." + +"Mollify nothing," returned the girl. "None of these big bruisers knows +what decency is, and if you're decent to them they think you're afraid +of them. When they got something on you you got to be nice, but when +they haven't, tell them where they get off. I knew he wouldn't pinch me; +he's got nothing to pinch me for, and he'd have been out of luck if he +had, for there hasn't one of them got anything on me." + +"But won't he have it in for you?" asked Jimmy. + +"Sure, he will," said the girl. "He's got it in for everybody. That's +what being a policeman does to a man. Say, most of these guys hate +themselves. I tell you, though," she said presently and more seriously, +"I'm sorry on your account. These dicks never forget a face. He's got +you catalogued and filed away in what he calls his brain alongside of a +dip and--a"--she hesitated--"a girl like me, and no matter how high +up you ever get if your foot slips up will bob O'Donnell with these two +facts." + +"I'm not worrying," said Jimmy. "I don't intend to let my foot slip in +his direction." + +"I hope not," said the girl. + + ------------------------ + +Thursday morning Jimmy took up his duties as efficiency expert at the +plant of the International Machine Company. Since his interview with +Compton his constant companion had been "How to Get More Out of Your +Factory," with the result that he felt that unless he happened to be +pitted against another efficiency expert he could at least make a noise +like efficiency, and also he had grasped what he considered the +fundamental principle of efficiency, namely, simplicity. + +"If," he reasoned, "I cannot find in any plant hundreds of operations +that are not being done in the simplest manner it will be because I +haven't even ordinary powers of observation or intelligence," for after +his second interview with Compton, Jimmy had suddenly realized that the +job meant something to him beside the two hundred and fifty dollars a +month--that he couldn't deliberately rob Compton, as he felt that he +would be doing unless he could give value received in services, and he +meant to do his best to accomplish that end. + +He knew that for a while his greatest asset would be bluff, but there +was something about Mason Compton that had inspired in the young man a +vast respect and another sentiment that he realized upon better +acquaintance might ripen into affection. Compton reminded him in many +ways of his father, and with the realization of that resemblance Jimmy +felt more and more ashamed of the part he was playing, but now that he +had gone into it he made up his mind that he would stick to it, and +there was besides the slight encouragement that he had derived from the +enthusiasm of the girl who had suggested the idea to him and of her +oft-repeated assertion relative to her "hunch", that he would make good. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE EFFICIENCY EXPERT. + +Unlike most other plants the International Machine Company paid on +Monday, and it was on the Monday following his assumption of his new +duties that Jimmy had his first clash with Bince. He had been talking +with Everett, the cashier, whom, in accordance with his "method," he was +studying. From Everett he had learned that it was pay-day and he had +asked the cashier to let him see the pay-roll. + +"I don't handle the pay-roll," replied Everett a trifle peevishly. +"Shortly after Mr. Bince was made assistant general manager a new rule +was promulgated, to the effect that all salaries and wages were to be +considered as confidential and that no one but the assistant general +manager would handle the pay-rolls. All I know is the amount of the +weekly check. He hires and fires everybody and pays everybody." + +"Rather unusual, isn't it?" commented Jimmy. + +"Very," said Everett. "Here's some of us have been with Mr. Compton +since Bince was in long clothes, and then he comes in here and says that +we are not to be trusted with the pay-roll." + +"Well," said Jimmy, "I shall have to go to him to see it then." + +"He won't show it to you," said Everett. + +"Oh, I guess he will," said Jimmy, and a moment later he knocked at +Bince's office door. When Bince saw who it was he turned back to his +work with a grunt. + +"I am sorry, Torrance," he said, "but I can't talk with you just now. +I'm very busy." + +"Working on the pay-roll?" said Jimmy. "Yes," snarled Bince. + +"That's what I came in to see," said the efficiency expert. + +"Impossible," said Bince. "The International Machine Company's pay-roll +is confidential, absolutely confidential. Nobody sees it but me or Mr. +Compton if he wishes to." + +"I understood from Mr. Compton," said Jimmy, "that I was to have full +access to all records." + +"That merely applied to operation records," said Bince. "It had nothing +to do with the pay-roll." + +"I should consider the pay-roll very closely allied to operations," +responded Jimmy. + +"I shouldn't," said Bince. + +"You won't let me see it then?" demanded Jimmy. + +"Look here," said Bince, "we agreed that we wouldn't interfere with each +other. I haven't interfered with you. Now don't you interfere with me. +This is my work, and my office is not being investigated by any +efficiency expert or any one else." + +"I don't recall that I made any such agreement," said Jimmy. "I must +insist on seeing that pay-roll." + +Bince turned white with suppressed anger, and then suddenly slamming his +pen on the desk, he wheeled around toward the other. + +"I might as well tell you something," he said, "that will make your path +easier here, if you know it. I understand that you want a permanent job +with us. If you do you might as well understand now as any other time +that you have got to be satisfactory to me. Of course, it is none of +your business, but it may help you to understand conditions when I tell +you that I am to marry Mr. Compton's daughter, and when I do that he +expects to retire from business, leaving me in full charge here. Now, do +you get me?" + +Jimmy had involuntarily acquired antipathy toward Bince at their first +meeting, an antipathy which had been growing the more that he saw of the +assistant general manager. This fact, coupled with Bince's present +rather nasty manner, was rapidly arousing the anger of the efficiency +expert. "I didn't come in here," he said, "to discuss your matrimonial +prospects, Mr. Bince. I came in here to see the pay-roll, and you will +oblige me by letting me see it." + +"I tell you again," said Bince, "once and for all, that you don't see +the pay-roll nor anything else connected with my office, and you will +oblige me by not bothering me any longer. As I told you when you first +came in, I am very busy." + +Jimmy turned and left the room. He was on the point of going to +Compton's office and asking for authority to see the pay-roll, and then +it occurred to him that Compton would probably not take sides against +his assistant general manager and future son-in-law. + +"I've got to get at it some other way," said Jimmy, "but you bet your +life I'm going to get at it. It looks to me as though there's something +funny about that pay-roll." + +On his way out he stopped at Everett's cage. "What was the amount of the +check for the pay-roll for this week, Everett?" he asked. + +"A little over ninety-six hundred dollars." + +"Thanks," said Jimmy, and returned to the shops to continue his study of +his men, and as he studied them he asked many questions, made many notes +in his little note-book, and always there were two questions that were +the same: "What is your name? What wages do you get?" + +"I guess," said Jimmy, "that in a short time I will know as much about +the payroll as the assistant general manager." + +Nor was it the pay-roll only that claimed Jimmy's attention. He found +that several handlings of materials could be eliminated by the adoption +of simple changes, and that a rearrangement of some of the machines +removed the necessity for long hauls from one part of the shop to +another. After an evening with the little volume he had purchased for +twenty-five cents in the second-hand bookshop he ordered changes that +enabled him to cut five men from the pay-roll and at the same time do +the work more expeditiously and efficiently. + +"Little book," he said one evening, "I take my hat off to you. You are +the best two-bits' worth I ever purchased." + +The day following the completion of the changes he had made in the shop +he was in Compton's office. + +"Patton was explaining some of the changes you have made," remarked +Compton. Patton was the shop foreman. "He said they were so simple that +he wondered none of us had thought of them before. I quite agree with +him." + +"So do I," returned Jimmy, "but, then, my whole method is based upon +simplicity." And his mind traveled to the unpretentious little book on +the table in his room on Indiana Avenue. + +"The feature that appeals to me most strongly is that you have been able +to get the cooperation of the men," continued Compton "that's what I +feared--that they wouldn't accept your suggestions. How did you do it?" + +"I showed them how they could turn out more work and make more money by +my plan. This appealed to the piece-workers. I demonstrated to the +others that the right way is the easiest way--I showed them how they +could earn their wages with less effort." + +"Good," said Compton. "You are running into no difficulties then? Is +there any way in which I can help you?" + +"I am getting the best kind of cooperation from the men in the shop, +practically without exception," replied Jimmy, "although there is one +fellow, a straw boss named Krovac, who does not seem to take as kindly +to the changes I have made as the others, but he really doesn't amount +to anything as an obstacle." Jimmy also thought of Bince and the +pay-roll, but he was still afraid to broach the subject. Suddenly an +inspiration came to him. + +"Yes," he said, "I believe your accounting system could be improved--it +will take me months to get around to it, as my work is primarily in the +shop, at first, at least. You can save both time and money by having +your books audited by a firm of public accountants who can also suggest +a new and more up-to-date system." + +"Not a bad idea," said Compton. "I think we will do it." + +For another half-hour they discussed Jimmy's work, and then as the +latter was leaving Compton stopped him. + +"By the way, you don't happen to know of a good stenographer, do you? +Miss Withe is leaving me Saturday." + +Jimmy thought a moment. Instantly he thought of Little Eva and what she +had said of her experience as a stenographer, and her desire to abandon +her present life for something in the line of her former work. Here was +a chance to repay her in some measure for her kindness to him. + +"Yes," he said, "I do know of a young lady who, I believe, could do the +work. Shall I have her call on you?" + +"If you will, please," replied Compton + +As Jimmy left the office Compton rang for Bince, and when the latter +came, told him of his plan to employ a firm of accountants to renovate +their entire system of bookkeeping. + +"Is that one of Torrance's suggestions?" asked Bince. + +"Yes, the idea is his," replied Compton, "and I think it is a good one." + +"It seems to me," said Bince, "that Torrance is balling things up +sufficiently as it is without getting in other theorizers who have no +practical knowledge of our business. The result of all this will be to +greatly increase our overhead by saddling us with a lot of red-tape in +the accounting department similar to that which Torrance is loading the +producing end with." + +"I am afraid that you are prejudiced, Harold," said Compton. "I cannot +discover that Torrance is doing anything to in any way complicate the +shop work. As a matter of fact a single change which he has just made +has resulted in our performing certain operations in less time and to +better advantage with five less men than formerly. Just in this one +thing he has not only more than earned his salary, but is really paying +dividends on our investment." + +Bince was silent for a moment. He had walked to the window and was +looking out on the street below, then he turned suddenly toward Compton. + +"Mr. Compton," he said, "you have made me assistant general manager here +and now, just when I am reaching a point where I feel I can accomplish +something, you are practically taking the authority out of my hands and +putting it in that of a stranger. I feel not only that you are making a +grave mistake, but that it is casting a reflection on my work. It is +making a difference in the attitude of the men toward me that I am +afraid can never be overcome, and consequently while lessening my +authority it is also lessening my value to the plant. I am going to ask +you to drop this whole idea. As assistant general manager, I feel that +it is working injury to the organization, and I hope that before it is +too late--that, in fact, immediately, you will discharge Torrance and +drop this idea of getting outsiders to come in and install a new +accounting system." + +"You're altogether too sensitive, Harold," replied Compton. "It is no +reflection on you whatsoever. The system under which we have been +working is, with very few exceptions, the very system that I evolved +myself through years of experience in this business. If there is any +reflection upon any one it is upon me and not you. You must learn to +realize, if you do not already, what I realize--that no one is +infallible. Just because the system is mine or yours we must not think +that no better system can be devised. I am perfectly satisfied with what +Mr. Torrance is doing, and I agree with his suggestion that we employ a +firm of accountants, but I think no less of you or your ability on that +account." + +Bince saw that it was futile to argue the matter further. + +"Very well, sir," he said. "I hope that I am mistaken and that no +serious harm will result. When do you expect to start these accountants +in?" + +"Immediately," replied Compton. "I shall get in touch with somebody +today." + +Bince shook his head dubiously as he returned to his own office. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +PLOTTING. + +The following Monday Miss Edith Hudson went to work for the +International Machine Company as Mr. Compton's stenographer. Nor could +the most fastidious have discovered aught to criticize in the appearance +or deportment of Little Eva. + +The same day the certified public accountants came. Mr. Harold Bince +appeared nervous and irritable, and he would have been more nervous and +more irritable had he known that Jimmy had just learned the amount of +the pay-check from Everett and that he had discovered that, although +five men had been laid off and no new ones employed since the previous +week, the payroll check was practically the same as before-- +approximately one thousand dollars more than his note-book indicated +it should be. + +"Phew!" whistled Jimmy. "These C.P.A.s are going to find this a more +interesting job than they anticipated. Poor old Compton! I feel mighty +sorry for him, but he had better find it out now than after that grafter +has wrecked his business entirely." + +That afternoon Mr. Compton left the office earlier than usual, +complaining of a headache, and the next morning his daughter telephoned +that he was ill and would not come to the office that day. During the +morning as Bince was walking through the shop he stopped to talk with +Krovac. + +Pete Krovac was a rat-faced little foreigner, looked upon among the men +as a trouble-maker. He nursed a perpetual grievance against his employer +and his job, and whenever the opportunity presented, and sometimes when +it did not present itself, he endeavored to inoculate others with his +dissatisfaction. Bince had hired the man, and during the several months +that Krovac had been with the company, the assistant general manager had +learned enough from other workers to realize that the man was an +agitator and a troublemaker. Several times he had been upon the point of +discharging him, but now he was glad that he had not, for he thought he +saw in him a type that in the light of present conditions might be of +use to him. + +In fact, for the past couple of weeks he had been using the man in an +endeavor to get some information concerning Torrance and his methods +that would permit him to go to Compton with a valid argument for Jimmy's +discharge. + +"Well, Krovac," he said as he came upon the man, "is Torrance +interfering with you any now?" + +"He hasn't got my job yet," growled the other, "but he's letting out +hard-working men with families without any reason. The first thing you +know you'll have a strike on your hands." + +"I haven't heard any one else complaining," said Bince. "You will, +though," replied Krovac. "They don't any of us know when we are going to +be canned to give Compton more profit, and men are not going to stand +for that long." + +"Then," said Bince, "I take it that he really hasn't interfered with you +much?" + +"Oh, he's always around asking a lot of fool questions," said Krovac. +"Last week he asked every man in the place what his name was and what +wages he was getting. Wrote it all down in a little book. I suppose he +is planning on cutting pay." + +Bince's eyes narrowed. "He got that information from every man in the +shop?" he asked. + +"Yes," replied Krovac. + +Bince was very pale. He stood in silence for some minutes, apparently +studying the man before him. At last he spoke. + +"Krovac," he said, "you don't like this man Torrance, do you?" + +"No," said the other, "I don't." + +"Neither do I," said Bince. "I know his plans even better than you. +This shop has short hours and good pay, but if we don't get rid of him +it will have the longest hours and lowest pay of any shop in the city." + +"Well?" questioned Krovac. + +"I think," said Bince, "that there ought to be some way to prevent this +man doing any further harm here." + +He looked straight into Krovac's eyes. + +"There is," muttered the latter. + +"It would be worth something of course," suggested Bince. "How much?" +asked Krovac. + +"Oh, I should think it ought to be worth a hundred dollars," replied +Bince. + +Krovac thought for a moment. + +"I think I can arrange it," he said, "but I would have to have fifty +now." + +"I cannot give it to you here," said Bince, "but if I should happen to +pass through the shop this afternoon you might find an envelope on the +floor beside your machine after I have gone." + +The following evening as Jimmy alighted from the Indiana Avenue car at +Eighteenth Street, two men left the car behind him. He did not notice +them, although, as he made his way toward his boarding-house, he heard +footsteps directly in his rear, and suddenly noting that they were +approaching him rapidly, he involuntarily cast a glance behind him just +as one of the men raised an arm to strike at him with what appeared to +be a short piece of pipe. + +Jimmy dodged the blow and then both men sprang for him. The first one +Jimmy caught on the point of the chin with a blow that put its recipient +out of the fight before he got into it, and then his companion, who was +the larger, succeeded in closing with the efficiency expert. +Inadvertently, however, he caught Jimmy about the neck, leaving both his +intended victim's arms free with the result that the latter was able to +seize his antagonist low down about the body, and then pressing him +close to him and hurling himself suddenly forward, he threw the fellow +backward upon the cement sidewalk with his own body on top. With a +resounding whack the attacker's head came in contact with the concrete, +his arms relaxed their hold upon Jimmy's neck, and as the latter arose +he saw both his assailants, temporarily at least, out of the fighting. + +Jimmy glanced hastily in both directions. There was no one in sight. +His boardinghouse was but a few steps away, and two minutes later he was +safe in his room. + +"A year ago," he thought to himself, smiling, "my first thought would +have been to have called in the police, but the Lizard has evidently +given me a new view-point in regard to them," for the latter had +impressed upon Jimmy the fact that whatever knowledge a policeman might +have regarding one was always acquired with the idea that eventually it +might be used against the person to whom it pertained. + +"What a policeman don't know about you will never hurt you," was one way +that the Lizard put it. + +When Jimmy appeared in the shop the next morning he noted casually that +Krovac had a cut upon his chin, but he did not give the matter a second +thought. Bince had arrived late. His first question, as he entered the +small outer office where Mr. Compton's stenographer and his worked, was +addressed to Miss Edith Hudson. + +"Is Mr. Torrance down yet?" he asked. + +"Yes," replied the girl, "he has been here some time. Do you wish to +see him?" + +Edith thought that the "No" which he snapped at her was a trifle more +emphatic than the circumstances seemed to warrant, nor could she help +but notice after he had entered his office the vehement manner in which +he slammed the door. + +"I wonder what's eating him," thought Miss Hudson to herself. "Of +course he doesn't like Jimmy, but why is he so peeved because Jimmy came +to work this morning--I don't quite get it." + +Almost immediately Bince sent for Krovac, and when the latter came and +stood before his desk the assistant general manager looked up at him +questioningly. + +"Well?" he asked. + +"Look at my chin," was Krovac's reply, "and he damn near killed the +other guy." + +"Maybe you'll have better luck the next time," growled Bince. + +"There ain't goin' to be no next time," asserted Krovac. "I don't tackle +that guy again." + +Bince held out his hand. + +"All right," he said, "you might return the fifty then." + +"Return nothin'," growled Krovac. "I sure done fifty dollars' worth last +night." + +"Come on," said Bince, "hand over the fifty." + +"Nothin' doin'," said Krovac with an angry snarl. "It might be worth +another fifty to you to know that I wasn't going to tell old man +Compton." + +"You damn scoundrel!" exclaimed Bince. + +"Don't go callin' me names," admonished Krovac. "A fellow that hires +another to croak a man for him for one hundred bucks ain't got no +license to call nobody names." + +Bince realized only too well that he was absolutely in the power of the +fellow and immediately his manner changed. + +"Come," he said, "Krovac, there is no use in our quarreling. You can +help me and I can help you. There must be some other way to get around +this." + +"What are you trying to do?" asked Krovac. "I got enough on you now to +send you up, and I don't mind tellin' yuh," he added, "that I had a guy +hid down there in the shop where he could watch you drop the envelope +behind my machine. I got a witness, yuh understand!" + +Mr. Bince did understand, but still he managed to control his temper. + +"What of it?" he said. "Nobody would believe your story, but let's +forget that. What we want to do is get rid of Torrance." + +"That isn't all you want to do," said Krovac. "There is something else." + +Bince realized that he was compromised as hopelessly already as he could +be if the man had even more information. + +"Yes," he said, "there is something beside Torrance's interference in +the shop. He's interfering with our accounting system and I don't want +it interfered with just now." + +"You mean the pay-roll?" asked Krovac. + +"It might be," said Bince. + +"You want them two new guys that are working in the office croaked, +too?" asked Krovac. + +"I don't want anybody 'croaked'," replied Bince. "I didn't tell you to +kill Torrance in the first place. I just said I didn't want him to come +back here to work." + +"Ah, hell, what you givin' us?" growled the other. "I knew what you +meant and you knew what you meant, too. Come across straight. What do +you want?" + +"I want all the records of the certified public accountants who are +working here," said Bince after a moment's pause. "I want them +destroyed, together with the pay-roll records." + +"Where are they?" + +"They will all be in the safe in Mr. Compton's office." + +Krovac knitted his brows in thought for several moments. "Say," he said, +"we can do the whole thing with one job." + +"What do you mean?" asked Bince, + +"We can get rid of this Torrance guy and get the records, too." + +"How?" asked Bince. "Do you know where Feinheimer's is?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, you be over there to-night about ten thirty and I'll introduce +you to a guy who can pull off this whole thing, and you and I won't have +to be mixed up in it at all." + +"To-night at ten thirty," said Bince. + +"At Feinheimer's," said Krovac. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +AN INVITATION TO DINE. + +As the workman passed through the little outer office Edith Hudson +glanced up at him. + +"Where," she thought after he had gone, "have I seen that fellow +before?" + +Jimmy was in the shop applying "How to Get More Out of Your Factory" to +the problems of the International Machine Company when he was called to +the telephone. + +"Is this Mr. Torrance?" asked a feminine voice. + +"It is," replied Jimmy. + +"I am Miss Compton. My father will probably not be able to get to the +office for several days, and as he wishes very much to talk with you he +has asked me to suggest that you take dinner with us this evening." +"Thank you," said Jimmy. "Tell Mr. Compton that I will come to the house +right after the shop closes to-night." + +"I suppose," said Elizabeth Compton as she turned away from the phone, +"that an efficiency expert is a very superior party and that his +conversation will be far above my head." + +Compton laughed. "Torrance seems to be a very likable chap," he said, +"and as far as his work is concerned he is doing splendidly." + +"Harold doesn't think so," said Elizabeth. "He is terribly put out +about the fellow. He told me only the other night that he really +believed that it would take years to overcome the bad effect that this +man has had upon the organization and upon the work in general." + +"That is all poppycock," exclaimed Compton, rather more irritably than +was usual with him. "For some reason Harold has taken an unwarranted +dislike to this man, but I am watching him closely, and I will see that +no very serious mistakes are made." + +When Jimmy arrived at the Compton home he was ushered into the library +where Mr. Compton was sitting. In a corner of the room, with her back +toward the door, Elizabeth Compton sat reading. She did not lay aside +her book or look in his direction as Jimmy entered, for the man was in +no sense a guest in the light of her understanding of the term. He was +merely one of her father's employees here on business to see him, +doubtless a very ordinary sort of person whom she would, of course, have +to meet when dinner was announced, but not one for whom it was necessary +to put oneself out in any way. + +Mr. Compton rose and greeted Jimmy cordially and then turned toward his +daughter. + +"Elizabeth," he said, "this is Mr. Torrance, the efficiency expert at +the plant." + +Leisurely Miss Compton laid aside her book. Rising, she faced the +newcomer, and as their eyes met, Jimmy barely stifled a gasp of +astonishment and dismay. Elizabeth Compton's arched brows raised +slightly and involuntarily she breathed a low ejaculation, "Efficiency +expert!" + +Simultaneously there flashed through the minds of both in rapid +succession a series of recollections of their previous meetings. The +girl saw the clerk at the stocking-counter, the waiter at Feinheimer's, +the prize-fighter at the training quarters and the milk-wagon driver. +All these things passed through her mind in the brief instant of the +introduction and her acknowledgment of it. She was too well-bred to +permit any outward indication of her recognition of the man other than +the first almost inaudible ejaculation that had been surprised from her. + + The indifference she had felt prior to meeting the efficiency expert + was altered now to a feeling of keen interest as she realized that she + held the power to relieve Bince of the further embarrassment of the + man's activities in the plant, and also to save her father from the + annoyance and losses that Bince had assured her would result from + Torrance's methods. And so she greeted Jimmy Torrance pleasantly, + almost cordially. + +"I am delighted," she said, "but I am afraid that I am a little awed, +too, as I was just saying to father before you came that I felt an +efficiency expert must be a very superior sort of person." + +If she placed special emphasis on the word "superior" it was so cleverly +done that it escaped the notice of her father. + +"Oh, not at all," replied Jimmy. "We efficiency experts are really quite +ordinary people. One is apt to meet us in any place that nice people are +supposed to go." + +Elizabeth felt the color rising slowly to her cheek. She realized then +that if she had thrown down the gage of battle the young man had lost no +time in taking it up. + +"I am afraid," she said, "that I do not understand very much about the +nature or the purpose of your work, but I presume the idea is to make +the concern with which you are connected more prosperous--more +successful?" + +"Yes," said her father, "that is the idea, and even in the short time he +has been with us Mr. Torrance has effected some very excellent changes." + +"It must be very interesting work," commented the girl; "a profession +that requires years of particular experience and study, and I suppose +one must be really thoroughly efficient and successful himself, too, +before he can help to improve upon the methods of others or to bring +them greater prosperity." + +"Quite true," said Jimmy. "Whatever a man undertakes he should succeed +in before he can hope to bring success to others." + +"Even in trifling occupations, I presume," suggested the girl, +"efficiency methods are best--an efficiency expert could doubtlessly +drive a milk-wagon better than an ordinary person?" And she looked +straight into Jimmy's eyes, an unquestioned challenge in her own. + +"Unquestionably," said Jimmy. "He could wait on table better, too." + +"Or sell stockings?" suggested Elizabeth. + +It was at this moment that Mr. Compton was called to the telephone in an +adjoining room, and when he had gone the girl turned suddenly upon Jimmy +Torrance. There was no cordiality nor friendship in her expression; a +sneer upcurved her short upper lip. + +"I do not wish to humiliate you unnecessarily in the presence of my +father," she said. "You have managed to deceive him into believing that +you are what you claim to be. Mr. Bince has known from the start that +you are incompetent and incapable of accomplishing the results father +thinks you are accomplishing. Now that you know that I know you to be an +impostor, what do you intend to do?" + +"I intend to keep right on with my work in the plant, Miss Compton," +replied Jimmy. + +"How long do you suppose father would keep you after I told him what I +know of you? Do you think that he would for a moment place the future of +his business in the hands of an ex-waiter from Feinheimer's---that he +would let a milk-wagon driver tell him how to run his business?" + +"It probably might make a difference," said Jimmy, "if he knew, but he +will not know--listen, Miss Compton, I have discovered some things +there that I have not even dared as yet to tell your father. The whole +future of the business may depend upon my being there during the next +few weeks. If I wasn't sure of what I am saying I might consider +acceding to your demands rather than to embarrass you with certain +knowledge which I have." + +"You refuse to leave, then?" she demanded. + +"I do," he said. + +"Very well," she replied; "I shall tell father when he returns to this +room just what I know of you." + +"Will you tell him," asked Jimmy, "that you went to the training +quarters of a prize-fighter, or that you dined unescorted at +Feinheimer's at night and were an object of the insulting attentions of +such a notorious character as Steve Murray?" + +The girl flushed. "You would tell him that?" she demanded. "Oh, of +course, I might have known that you would. It is difficult to realize +that any one dining at my father's home is not a gentleman. I had +forgotten for the moment." + +"Yes," said Jimmy, "I would tell him, not from a desire to harm you, but +because this is the only way that I can compel you to refrain from +something that would result in inestimable harm to your father." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +JIMMY TELLS THE TRUTH. + +Mr. Compton returned to the room before Jimmy had discovered whether +the girl intended to expose him or not. She said nothing about the +matter during dinner, and immediately thereafter she excused herself, +leaving the two men alone. + +During the conversation that ensued Jimmy discovered that Bince had been +using every argument at his command to induce Compton to let him go, as +well as getting rid of the certified public accountants. + +"I can't help but feel," said Compton, "that possibly there may be some +reason in what Mr. Bince says, for he seems to feel more strongly on +this subject than almost any question that has ever arisen in the plant +wherein we differed, and it may be that I am doing wrong to absolutely +ignore his wishes in the matter. + +"As a matter of fact, Mr. Torrance, I have reached the point where I +don't particularly relish a fight, as I did in the past. I would rather +have things run along smoothly than to have this feeling of unrest and +unpleasantness that now exists in the plant. I do not say that you are +to blame for it, but the fact remains that ever since you came I have +been constantly harassed by this same unpleasant condition which grows +worse day by day. There is no question but what you have accomplished a +great deal for us of a practical nature, but I believe in view of Mr. +Bince's feelings in the matter that we had better terminate our +arrangement." + +Jimmy suddenly noted how old and tired his employer looked. He +realized, too, that for a week he had been fighting an incipient +influenza and that doubtless his entire mental attitude was influenced +by the insidious workings of the disease, one of the marked symptoms of +which he knew to be a feeling of despondency and mental depression, +which sapped both courage and initiative. + +They were passing through the hallway from the dining-room to the +library, and as Compton concluded what was equivalent to Jimmy's +discharge, he had stopped and turned toward the younger man. They were +standing near the entrance to the music-room in which Elizabeth chanced +to be, so that she overheard her father's words, and not without a smile +of satisfaction and relief. + +"Mr. Compton," replied Jimmy, "no matter what you do with me, you simply +must not let those C.P.A.'s go until they have completed their work. I +know something of what it is going to mean to your business, but I would +rather that the reports come from them than from me." + +"What do you mean?" asked Compton. + +"I didn't want to be the one to tell you," replied Jimmy. "I preferred +that the C.P.A.'s discover it, as they will within the next day or +two--you are being systematically robbed. I suspected it before I had +been there ten days, and I was absolutely sure of it at the time I +suggested you employ the C.P.A.'s. You are being robbed at the rate of +approximately one thousand dollars a week." + +"How?" asked Compton. + +"I would rather you would wait for the report of the C.P.A.'s," returned +Jimmy. + +"I wish to know now," said Compton, "how I am being robbed." + +Jimmy looked straight into the older man's eyes. "Through the +pay-roll," he replied. + +For a full minute Compton did not speak. + +"You may continue with your work in the plant," he said at last, "and we +will keep the accountants, for a while at least. And now I am going to +ask you to excuse me. I find that I tire very quickly since I have been +threatened with influenza." + +Jimmy bid his employer good night, and Mr. Compton turned into the +library as the former continued along across the hall to the entrance. +He was putting on his overcoat when Elizabeth Compton emerged from the +music-room and approached him. + +"I overheard your conversation with father," she said. "It seems to me +that you are making a deliberate attempt to cause him worry and +apprehension--you are taking advantage of his illness to frighten him +into keeping you in his employ. I should think you would be ashamed of +yourself." + +"I am sorry that you think that," said Jimmy. "If it was not for your +father and you I wouldn't have urged the matter at all." + +"You are just doing it to hold your position," retorted the girl, "and +now, by threats of blackmail you prevent me from exposing you--you are +a despicable cur." + +Jimmy felt the blood mounting to his face. He was mortified and angry, +and yet he was helpless because his traducer was a woman. Unconsciously +he drew himself to his full height. + +"You will have to think about me as you please," he said; "I cannot +influence that, but I want you to understand that you are not to +interfere with my work. I think we understand one another perfectly, +Miss Compton. Good night." + +And as he closed the door behind him he left a very angry young lady +biting her lower lip and almost upon the verge of angry tears. + +"The boor," she exclaimed; "he dared to order me about and threaten me." + +The telephone interrupted her unhappy train of thoughts. It was Bince. + +"I am sorry, Elizabeth," he said, "but I won't be able to come up this +evening. I have some important business to attend to. How is your +father?" + +"He seems very tired and despondent," replied Elizabeth. "That +efficiency person was here to dinner. He just left." + +She could not see the startled and angry expression of Bince's face as +he received this information. "Torrance was there?" he asked. "How did +that happen?" + +"Father asked him to dinner, and when he wanted to discharge the fellow +Torrance told him something that upset father terribly, and urged that +he be kept a little while longer, to which father agreed." + +"What did he tell him?" asked Bince. + +"Oh, some alarmist tale about somebody robbing father. I didn't quite +make out what it was all about, but it had something to do with the +pay-roll." + +Bince went white. "Don't believe anything that fellow says," he +exclaimed excitedly: "he's nothing but a crook. Elizabeth, can't you +make your father realize that he ought to get rid of the man, that he +ought to leave things to me instead of trusting an absolute stranger?" + +"I have," replied the girl, "and he was on the point of doing it until +Torrance told him this story." + +"Something will have to be done," said Bince, "at once. I'll be over to +see your father in the morning. Good-by, dear," and he hung up the +receiver. + +After Jimmy left the Compton home he started to walk down-town. It was +too early to go to his dismal little room on Indiana Avenue. The Lizard +was still away. He had seen nothing of him for weeks, and with his going +he had come to realize that he had rather depended upon the Lizard for +company. He was full of interesting stories of the underworld and his +dry humor and strange philosophy amused and entertained Jimmy. + +And now as he walked along the almost deserted drive after his recent +unpleasant scene with Elizabeth Compton he felt more blue and lonely +than he had for many weeks. He craved human companionship, and so strong +was the urge that his thoughts naturally turned to the only person other +than the Lizard who seemed to have taken any particularly kindly +interest in him. Acting on the impulse he turned west at the first cross +street until he came to a drugstore. Entering a telephone-booth he +called a certain number and a moment later had his connection. + +"Is that you, Edith?" he asked, and at the affirmative reply, "this is +Jimmy Torrance. I'm feeling terribly lonesome. I was wondering if I +couldn't drag you out to listen to my troubles?" + +"Surest thing you know," cried the girl. "Where are you?" He told her. +"Take a Clark Street car," she told him, "and I'll be at the corner of +North Avenue by the time you get there." + +As the girl hung up the receiver and turned from the phone a slightly +quizzical expression reflected some thought that was in her mind. "I +wonder," she said as she returned to her room, "if he is going to be +like the rest?" + +She seated herself before her mirror and critically examined her +reflection in the glass. She knew she was good-looking. No need of a +mirror to tell her that. Her youth and her good looks had been her stock +in trade, and yet this evening she appraised her features most +critically, and as with light fingers she touched her hair, now in one +place and now in another, she found herself humming a gay little tune +and she realized that she was very happy. + +When Jimmy Torrance alighted from the Clark Street car he found Edith +waiting for him. + +"It was mighty good of you," he said. "I don't know when I have had +such a fit of blues, but I feel better already." + +"What is the matter?" she asked. + +"I just had a talk with Mr. Compton," he replied. "He sent for me and I +had to tell him something that I didn't want to tell him, although he's +got to find it out sooner or later anyway." + +"Is there something wrong at the plant?" she asked. + +"Wrong doesn't describe it," he exclaimed bitterly. "The man that he +has done the most for and in whose loyalty he ought to have the right of +implicit confidence, is robbing him blind." + +"Bince?" asked the girl. Jimmy nodded. "I didn't like that pill," she +said, "from the moment I saw him." + +"Nor I," said Jimmy, "but he is going to marry Miss Compton and inherit +the business. He's the last man in the place that Compton would suspect. +It was just like suggesting to a man that his son was robbing him." + +"Have you got the goods on him?" asked Edith. + +"I will have as soon as the C.P.A.'s get to digging into the pay-roll," +he replied, "and I just as good as got the information I need even +without that. Well, let's forget our troubles. What shall we do?" + +"What do you want to do?" she asked. + +He could not tell by either her tone or expression with what anxiety she +awaited his reply. "Suppose we do something exciting, like going to the +movies," he suggested with a laugh. + +"That suits me all right," said the girl. "There is a dandy comedy down +at the Castle." + +And so they went to the picture show, and when it was over he suggested +that they have a bite to eat. + +"I'll tell you," Edith suggested. "Suppose we go to Feinheimer's +restaurant and see if we can't get that table that I used to eat at when +you waited on me?" They both laughed. + +"If old Feinheimer sees me he will have me poisoned," said Jimmy. + +"Not if you have any money to spend in his place." + +It was eleven thirty when they reached Feinheimer's. The table they +wanted was vacant, a little table in a corner of the room and furthest +from the orchestra. The waiter, a new man, did not know them, and no one +had recognized them as they entered. + +Jimmy sat looking at the girl's profile as she studied the menu-card. +She was very pretty. He had always thought her that, but somehow +to-night she seemed to be different, even more beautiful than in the +past. He wished that he could forget what she had been. And he realized +as he looked at her sweet girlish face upon which vice had left no +slightest impression to mark her familiarity with vice, that it might be +easy to forget her past. And then between him and the face of the girl +before him arose the vision of another face, the face of the girl that +he had set upon a pedestal and worshiped from afar. And with the +recollection of her came a realization of the real cause of his sorrow +and depression earlier in the evening. + +He had attributed it to the unpleasant knowledge he had been forced to +partially impart to her father and also in some measure to the +regrettable interview he had had with her, but now he knew that these +were only contributory causes, that the real reason was that during the +months she had occupied his thoughts and in the few meetings he had had +with her there had developed within him, unknown to himself, a sentiment +for her that could be described by but one word--love. + +Always, though he had realized that she was unattainable, there must +have lingered within his breast a faint spark of hope that somehow, some +time, there would be a chance, but after to-night he knew there could +never be a chance. She had openly confessed her contempt for him, and +how would she feel later when she realized that through his efforts her +happiness was to be wrecked, and the man she loved and was to marry +branded as a criminal? + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +A LETTER FROM MURRAY. + +The girl opposite him looked up from the card before her. The lines of +her face were softened by the suggestion of a contented smile. "My +gracious!" she exclaimed. "What's the matter now? You look as though you +had lost your last friend." + +Jimmy quickly forced a smile to his lips. "On the contrary," he said, +"I think I've found a regular friend--in you." + +It was easy to see that his words pleased her. + +"No," continued Jimmy; "I was thinking of what an awful mess I make of +everything I tackle." + +"You're not making any mess of this new job," she said. "You're making +good. You see, my hunch was all right." + +"I wish you hadn't had your hunch," he said with a smile. "It's going +to bring a lot of trouble to several people, but now that I'm in it I'm +going to stick to it to a finish." + +The girl's eyes were wandering around the room, taking in the faces of +the diners about them. Suddenly she extended her hand and laid it on +Jimmy's. + +"For the love of Mike," she exclaimed. "Look over there." + +Slowly Jimmy turned his eyes in the direction she indicated. + +"What do you know about that?" he ejaculated. "Steve Murray and Bince!" + +"And thick as thieves," said the girl. + +"Naturally," commented Jimmy. + +The two men left the restaurant before Edith and Jimmy had finished +their supper, leaving the two hazarding various guesses as to the reason +for their meeting. + +"You can bet it's for no good," said the girl. "I've known Murray for a +long while, and I never knew him to do a decent thing in his life." + +Their supper over, they walked to Clark Street and took a northbound +car, but after alighting Jimmy walked with the girl to the entrance of +her apartment. + +"I can't thank you enough," he said, "for giving me this evening. It is +the only evening I have enjoyed since I struck this town last July." + +He unlocked the outer door for her and was holding it open. + +"It is I who ought to thank you," she said. Her voice was very low and +filled with suppressed feeling. "I ought to thank you, for this has been +the happiest evening of my life," and as though she could not trust +herself to say more, she entered the hallway and closed the door between +them. + +As Jimmy turned away to retrace his steps to the car-line he found his +mind suddenly in a whirl of jumbled emotions, for he was not so stupid +as to have failed to grasp something of the significance of the girl's +words and manner. + +"Hell!" he muttered. "Look what I've done now!" + +The girl hurried to her room and turned on the lights, and again she +seated herself before her mirror, and for a moment sat staring at the +countenance reflected before her. She saw lips parted to rapid +breathing, lips that curved sweetly in a happy smile, and then as she +sat there looking she saw the expression of the face before her change. +The lips ceased to smile, the soft, brown eyes went wide and staring as +though in sudden horror. For a moment she sat thus and then, throwing +her body forward upon her dressing-table, she buried her face in her +arms. + +"My God!" she cried through choking sobs. + +Mason Compton was at his office the next morning, contrary to the pleas +of his daughter and the orders of his physician. Bince was feeling more +cheerful. Murray had assured him that there was a way out. He would not +tell Bince what the way was. + +"Just leave it to me," he said. "The less you know, the better off +you'll be. What you want is to get rid of this fresh guy and have all +the papers in a certain vault destroyed. You see to it that only the +papers you want destroyed are in that vault, and I'll do the rest." + +All of which relieved Mr. Harold Bince's elastic conscience of any +feeling of responsibility in the matter. Whatever Murray did was no +business of his. He was glad that Murray hadn't told him. + +He greeted Jimmy Torrance almost affably, but he lost something of his +self-composure when Mason Compton arrived at the office, for Bince had +been sure that his employer would be laid up for at least another week, +during which time Murray would have completed his work. + +The noon mail brought a letter from Murray. + +"Show the enclosed to Compton," it read. "Tell him you found it on your +desk, and destroy this letter." The enclosure was a crudely printed note +on a piece of soiled wrapping-paper: + + + + TREAT YOUR MEN RIGHT OR + SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES + I. W. W. + + + +Bince laid Murray's letter face down upon the balance of the open mail, +and sat for a long time looking at the ominous words of the enclosure. +At first he was inclined to be frightened, but finally a crooked smile +twisted his lips. "Murray's not such a fool, after all," he +soliloquized. + +"He's framing an alibi before he starts." + +With the note in his hand, Bince entered Compton's office, where he +found the latter dictating to Edith Hudson. "Look at this thing!" +exclaimed Bince, laying the note before Compton. "What do you suppose it +means?" + +Compton read it, and his brows knitted. "Have the men been complaining +at all?" he asked. + +"Recently I have heard a little grumbling," replied Bince. "They +haven't taken very kindly to Torrance's changes, and I guess some of +them are afraid they are going to lose their jobs, as they know he is +cutting down the force in order to cut costs." + +"He ought to know about this," said Compton. "Wait; I'll have him in," +and he pressed a button on his desk. A moment later Jimmy entered, and +Compton showed him the note. + +"What do you think of it?" asked Compton. + +"I doubt if it amounts to much," replied Jimmy. "The men have no +grievance. It may be the work of some fellow who was afraid of his job, +but I doubt if it really emanates from any organized scheme of +intimidation. If I were you, sir, I would simply ignore it." + +To Jimmy's surprise, Bince agreed with him. It was the first time that +Bince had agreed with anything Jimmy had suggested. + +"Very well," assented Compton, "but we'll preserve this bit of evidence +in case we may need it later," and he handed the slip of paper to Edith +Hudson. "File this, please, Miss Hudson," he said; and then, turning to +Bince: + +"It may be nothing, but I don't like the idea of it. There is apt to be +something underlying this, or even if it is only a single individual and +he happens to be a crank he could cause a lot of trouble. Suppose, for +instance, one of these crack-brained foreigners in the shop got it into +his head that Torrance here was grinding him down in order to increase +our profits? Why, he might attack him at any time! I tell you, we have +got to be prepared for such a contingency, especially now that we have +concrete evidence that there is such a man in our employ. I think you +ought to be armed, Mr. Torrance. Have you a pistol?" + +Jimmy shook his head negatively. + +"No, sir," he said; "not here." + +Compton opened a desk drawer. + +"Take this one," he said, and handed Jimmy an automatic. + +The latter smiled. "Really, Mr. Compton," he said, "I don't believe I +need such an article." + +"I want you to take it," insisted Compton. "I want you to be on the +safe side." + +A moment later Bince and Jimmy left the office together. Jimmy still +carried the pistol in his hand. + +"You'd better put that thing in your pocket," cautioned Bince. + +They were in the small office on which Compton's and Bince's offices +opened, and Jimmy had stopped beside the desk that had been placed there +for him. + +"I think I'll leave it here," he said. "The thing would be a nuisance in +my pocket," and he dropped it into one of the desk drawers, while Bince +continued his way toward the shop. + +Compton was looking through the papers and letters on his desk, +evidently searching for something which he could not find, while the +girl sat waiting for him to continue his dictation. + +"That's funny," commented Compton. + +"I was certain that that letter was here. Have you seen anything of a +letter from Mosher?" + +"No, sir," replied Edith. + +"Well, I wish you would step into Mr. Bince's office, and see if it is +on his desk." + +Upon the assistant general manager's desk lay a small pile of papers, +face down, which Edith proceeded to examine in search of the Mosher +letter. She had turned them all over at once, commencing at what had +previously been the bottom of the pile, so that she ran through them all +without finding the Mosher letter before she came to Murray's epistle. + +As its import dawned upon her, her eyes widened at first in surprise and +then narrowed as she realized the value of her discovery. At first she +placed the letter back with the others just as she had found them, but +on second thought she took it up quickly and, folding it, slipped it +inside her waist. Then she returned to Compton's office. + +"I cannot find the Mosher letter," she said. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +LAID UP. + +Harriet Holden was sitting in Elizabeth's boudoir. "And he had the +effrontery," the latter was saying, "to tell me what I must do and must +not do! The idea! A miserable little milk-wagon driver dictating to me!" + +Miss Holden smiled. + +"I should not call him very little," she remarked. + +"I didn't mean physically," retorted Elizabeth. "It is absolutely +insufferable. I am going to demand that father discharge the man." + +"And suppose he asks you why?" asked Harriet. "You will tell him, of +course, that you want this person discharged because he protected you +from the insults and attacks of a ruffian while you were dining in +Feinheimer's at night--is that it?" + +"You are utterly impossible, Harriet!" cried Elizabeth, stamping her +foot. "You are as bad as that efficiency person. But, then, I might have +expected it! You have always, it seems to me, shown a great deal more +interest in the fellow than necessary, and probably the fact that Harold +doesn't like him is enough to make you partial toward him, for you have +never tried to hide the fact that you don't like Harold." + +"If you're going to be cross," said Harriet, "I think I shall go home." + +At about the same time the Lizard entered Feinheimer's. In the far +corner of the room Murray was seated at a table. The Lizard approached +and sat down opposite him. "Here I am," he said. "What do you want, and +how did you know I was in town?" + +"I didn't know," said Murray. "I got a swell job for you, and so I sent +out word to get you." + +"You're in luck then," said the Lizard. "I just blew in this morning. +What kind of a job you got?" + +Murray explained at length. + +"They got a watchman," he concluded, "but I've got a guy on de inside +that'll fix him." + +"When do I pull this off?" asked the Lizard. + +"In about a week. I'll let you know the night later. Dey ordinarily +draw the payroll money Monday, the same day dey pay, but dis week +they'll draw it Saturday and leave it in the safe. It'll be layin' on +top of a bunch of books and papers. Dey're de t'ings you're to destroy. +As I told you, it will all be fixed from de inside. Dere's no danger of +a pinch. All you gotta do is crack de safe, put about a four or five +t'ousand dollar roll in your pocket, and as you cross de river drop a +handful of books and papers in. Nothin' to it--it's the easiest graft +you ever had." + +"You're sure dat's all?" asked the Lizard. + +"Sure thing!" replied Murray. + +"Where's de place?" + +"Dat I can't tell you until the day we're ready to pull off de job." + +At four o'clock that afternoon Jimmy Torrance collapsed at his desk. +The flu had struck him as suddenly and as unexpectedly as it had +attacked many of its victims. Edith Hudson found him, and immediately +notified Mr. Compton, with the result that half an hour later Jimmy +Torrance was in a small private hospital in Park Avenue. + +That night Bince got Murray over the phone. He told him of Jimmy's +sickness. + +"He's balled up the whole plan," he complained. "We've either got to +wait until he croaks or is out again before we can go ahead, unless +something else arises to make it necessary to act before. I think I can +hold things off, though, at this end, all right." + +For four or five days Jimmy was a pretty sick man. He was allowed to +see no one, but even if Jimmy had been in condition to give the matter +any thought he would not have expected to see any one, for who was there +to visit him in the hospital, who was there who knew of his illness, to +care whether he was sick or well, alive or dead? It was on the fifth day +that Jimmy commenced to take notice of anything. At Compton's orders he +had been placed in a private room and given a special nurse, and to-day +for the first time he learned of Mr. Compton's kindness and the fact +that the nurse was instructed to call Jimmy's employer twice a day and +report the patient's condition. + +"Mighty nice of him," thought Jimmy, and then to the nurse: "And the +flowers, too? Does he send those?" + +The young woman shook her head negatively. + +"No," she said; "a young lady comes every evening about six and leaves +the flowers. She always asks about your condition and when she may see +you." + +Jimmy was silent for some time. "She comes every evening?" he asked. + +"Yes," replied the nurse. + +"May I see her this evening?" asked Jimmy. + +"We'll ask the doctor," she replied; and the doctor must have given +consent, for at six o'clock that evening the nurse brought Edith Hudson +to his bedside. + +The girl came every evening thereafter and sat with Jimmy as long as the +nurse would permit her to remain. Jimmy discovered during those periods +a new side to her character, a mothering tenderness that filled him with +a feeling of content and happiness the moment that she entered the room, +and which doubtless aided materially in his rapid convalescence, for +until she had been permitted to see him Jimmy had suffered as much from +mental depression as from any other of the symptoms of his disease. + +He had felt utterly alone and uncared for, and in this mental state he +had brooded over his failures to such an extent that he had reached a +point where he felt that death would be something of a relief. +Militating against his recovery had been the parting words of Elizabeth +Compton the evening that he had dined at her father's home, but now all +that was very nearly forgotten--at least crowded into the dim vistas of +recollection by the unselfish friendship of this girl of the streets. + +Jimmy's nurse quite fell in love with Edith. + +"She is such a sweet girl," she said, "and always so cheerful. She is +going to make some one a mighty good wife," and she smiled knowingly at +Jimmy. + +The suggestion which her words implied came to Jimmy as a distinct +shock. He had never thought of Edith Hudson in the light of this +suggestion, and now he wondered if there could be any such sentiment as +it implied in Edith's heart, but finally he put the idea away with a +shrug. + +"Impossible," he thought. "She thinks of me as I think of her, only as a +good friend." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +IN THE TOILS. + +At the office of the International Machine Company the work of the +C.P.A.'s was drawing to a close. Their report would soon be ready to +submit to Mr. Compton, and as the time approached Bince's nervousness +and irritability increased. Edith noticed that he inquired each day with +growing solicitude as to the reports from the hospital relative to +Jimmy's condition. She knew that Bince disliked Jimmy, and yet the man +seemed strangely anxious for his recovery and return to work. + +In accordance with Jimmy's plan, the C.P.A.'s were to give out no +information to any one, even to Mr. Compton, until their investigation +and report were entirely completed. This plan had been approved by Mr. +Compton, although he professed to be at considerable loss to understand +why it was necessary. It was, however, in accordance with Jimmy's plan +to prevent, if possible, any interference with the work of the auditors +until every available fact in the case had been ascertained and +recorded. + +In the investigation of the pay-roll Bince had worked diligently with +the accountants. As a matter of fact, he had never left them a moment +while the pay-roll records were in their hands, and had gone to much +pain to explain in detail every question arising therefrom. + +Although the investigators seemed to accept his statements at their face +value, the assistant general manager was far from being assured that +their final report would redound to his credit. + +On a Thursday they informed him that they had completed their +investigation, and the report would be submitted to Mr. Compton on +Saturday. + +When Edith reached the hospital that evening she found Jimmy in high +spirits. He was dressed for the first time, and assured her that he was +quite able to return to work if the doctor would let him, but the nurse +shook her head. "You ought to stay here for another week or ten days," +she admonished him. + +"Nothing doing,"' cried Jimmy. "I'll be out of here Monday at the +latest." But when Edith told him that the C.P.A.'s had finished, and +that their report would be handed in Saturday, Jimmy announced that he +would leave the hospital the following day. + +"But you can't do it," said the nurse. + +"Why not?" asked Jimmy. + +"The doctor won't permit it." + +Edith tried to dissuade him, but he insisted that it was absolutely +necessary for him to be at the office when the C.P.A.'s report was made. + +"I'll be over there Friday evening or Saturday morning at the latest," +he said as she bid him good-bye. + +And so it was that, despite the pleas of his nurse and the orders of his +physician, Jimmy appeared at the plant Friday afternoon. Bince greeted +him almost effusively, and Mr. Compton seemed glad to see him out again. + +That evening Harold Bince met Murray at Feinheimer's, and still later +the Lizard received word that Murray wanted to see him. + +"Everything's ready," the boss explained to the Lizard. "The whole +thing's framed for to-morrow night. The watchman was discharged to-day. +Another man is supposed to have been hired to take the job, but of +course he won't show up. You meet me here at seven thirty to-morrow +night, and I'll give you your final instructions and tell you how to get +to the plant." The C.P.A.'s were slow in completing their report. At +noon on Saturday it looked very much to Bince that there would be no +report ready before Monday. He had spent most of the forenoon pacing his +office, and at last, unable longer to stand the strain, he had announced +that he was going out to his country club for a game of golf. + +He returned to his down-town club about dinner-time, and at eight +o'clock he called up Elizabeth Compton. + +"Come on up," said the girl. "I'm all alone this evening. Father went +back to the office to examine some reports that were just finished up +late this afternoon." + +"I'll be over," said Bince, "as soon as I dress." If there was any trace +of surprise or shock in his tones the girl failed to notice it. + +At ten o'clock that night a figure moved silently through the dark +shadows of an alleyway in the area of the International Machine +Company's plant on West Superior Street. As he moved along he counted +the basement windows silently, and at the fifth window he halted. Just a +casual glance he cast up and down the alley, and then, kneeling, he +raised the sash and slipped quietly into the darkness of the basement. + +At about the same time Jimmy's landlady called him to the telephone, +where a man's voice asked if "this was Mr. Torrance?" Assured that such +was the fact, the voice continued: "I am the new watchman at the plant. +There's something wrong here. I can't get hold of Mr. Compton. I think +you better come down. I'll be in Mr. Compton's office--" The message +ceased as though central had disconnected them. + +"Funny," thought Jimmy, "that he should call me up. I wonder what the +trouble can be." But he lost no time in getting his hat and starting for +the works. + +Although the Lizard knew that there was no danger of detection, yet from +long habit he moved through the plant of the International Machine +Company with the noiselessness of a disembodied spirit. Occasionally, +and just for the briefest instant, he flashed his lamp ahead of him, but +though he had never been in the place before he found it scarcely +necessary, so minute had been his instructions for reaching the office +from the fifth basement window. + +The room he sought was on the second floor, and the Lizard had mounted +the steps from the basement to the first floor when he was brought to a +sudden stop by a noise from the floor above him. The Lizard listened +intently. No, he could not be mistaken. Too often had he heard a similar +sound. + +Some one was tiptoeing across the floor above. The Lizard was in the +hallway close beside the stairs when he realized the footsteps were +coming toward the stairway, and a moment later that they were cautiously +descending. The Lizard flattened himself against the wall, and if he +breathed his lungs gave forth no sound. + +If one may interpret footsteps--and the Lizard, from the fund of a +great experience, felt that he could--those descending the stairway +from above him might have been described as nervous and repressed; for +at least they gave the Lizard the impression of one who desired to flee +in haste and yet dared not do so, for fear of attracting attention by +the increased noise that greater speed might entail. + +At least the Lizard knew that those were the footsteps of no watchman, +but whether it be guardian of the law or fellow criminal the Lizard had +no wish to be discovered. He wondered what had gone wrong with Murray's +plans, and, suddenly imbued with the natural suspicion of the criminal, +it occurred to him that the whole thing might be a frame-up to get him; +and yet why Murray should wish to get him he could not imagine. He ran +over in his mind a list of all those who might feel enmity toward him, but +among them all the Lizard could cast upon none who might have sufficient +against him to warrant such an elaborate scheme of revenge. + +The footsteps passed him and continued on toward the foot of the stairs +where was the main entrance which opened upon the street. At the door +the footsteps halted, and as the Lizard's eyes bored through the +darkness in the direction of the other prowler the latter struck a match +upon the panel of the door and lighted a cigarette, revealing his +features momentarily but distinctly to the watcher in the shadow of the +stairway. Then he opened the door and passed out into the night. + +The Lizard, listening intently for a few moments to assure himself that +there was no one else above, and that the man who had just departed was +not returning, at last continued his way to the foot of the stairs, +which he ascended to the second floor. Passing through the outer office, +he paused a moment before the door to Compton's private office, and then +silently turning the knob he gently pushed the door open and stepped +into the room. + +Beyond the threshold he halted and pressed the button of his flash-lamp. +For just an instant its faint rays illumined the interior of the room, +and then darkness blotted out the scene. But whatever it was that the +little flash-lamp had revealed was evidently in the nature of a +surprise, and perhaps something of a shock, to the Lizard, for he drew +back with a muttered oath, backed quietly out of the room, closed the +door after him, and, moving much more swiftly than he had entered, +retraced his steps to the fifth window on the alley, and was gone from +the scene with whatever job he had contemplated unexecuted. + +A half-hour later detective headquarters at the Central Station received +an anonymous tip: "Send some one to the office of the International +Machine Company, on the second floor of West Superior Street." + +It was ten thirty when Jimmy reached the plant. He entered the front +door with his own latchkey, pressed the button which lighted the +stairway and the landing above, and, ascending, went straight to Mr. +Compton's office, turned the knob, and opened the door, to find that the +interior was dark. + + "Strange," he thought, "that after sending for me the fellow didn't + wait." As these thoughts passed through his mind he fumbled on the wall + for the switch, and, finding it, flooded the office with light. + +As he turned again toward the room he voiced a sudden exclamation of +horror, for on the floor beside his desk lay the body of Mason Compton! +As Jimmy stepped quickly toward Compton's body and kneeled beside it a +man tiptoed quietly up the front stairway, while another, having +ascended from the rear, was crossing the outer office with equal +stealth. + +Jimmy felt of Compton's face and hands. They were warm. And then he +placed his ear close against the man's breast, in order to see if he +could detect the beating of the heart. He was in this position when he +was startled by a gruff voice behind him. + +"Put 'em up!" it admonished curtly, and Jimmy turned to see two men +standing in the doorway with pistols leveled at him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. + +At first Jimmy thought they were the perpetrators of the deed, but +almost immediately he recognized one of them as O'Donnell, the erstwhile +traffic officer who had been promoted to a detective sergeancy since +Jimmy had first met him. + +"Compton has been murdered," said Jimmy dully. "He is dead." + +"Put up your hands," snapped O'Donnell for the second time, "and be +quick about it!" + +It was then for the first time that Jimmy realized the meaning that +might be put upon his presence alone in the office with his dead +employer. O'Donnell's partner searched him, but found no weapon upon +him. + +"Where's the gat?" he asked. + +"Whoever did this probably took it with him," said Jimmy. "Find the +watchman." + +They made Jimmy sit down in a corner, and while one of them guarded him +the other called up central, made his report, and asked for an ambulance +and the wagon. Then O'Donnell commenced to examine the room. A moment +later he found an automatic behind the door across the room from where +Compton's body lay. + +"Ever see this before?" asked O'Donnell, holding the pistol up to Jimmy. + +"If you're asking me if it's mine, no," said Jimmy. "I have a gun, but +it's home. I never carry it. I didn't do this, O'Donnell," he continued. +"There was no reason why I should do it, so instead of wasting your time +on me while the murderer escapes you'd better get busy on some other +theory, too. It won't do any harm, anyway." + +The wagon came and took Jimmy to the station, and later he was +questioned by the lieutenant in charge. + +"You say this is not your pistol?" asked the police officer. + +"It is not," replied Jimmy. + +"You never saw it before?" + +"No, I have not." + +The lieutenant turned to one of his men, who went to the door, and, +opening it, returned almost immediately with Bince. + +"Do you know this man, Mr. Bince?" asked the lieutenant. + +"I certainly do," said Bince. + +"Did you ever see this pistol before?" + +Bince took the weapon and examined it. + +"Yes," he said. + +"Under what circumstances?" asked the lieutenant. + +"It was one of two that Mr. Compton had in his desk. This one he loaned +to Torrance two or three weeks ago. I was in the office at the time." + +The officer turned toward Jimmy. + +"Now do you recognize it?" he asked. + +"I haven't denied," said Jimmy, "that Mr. Compton had loaned me a +pistol. As a matter of fact, I had forgotten all about it. I do not +particularly recognize this one as the weapon he loaned me, though it is +of the same type. There is no way that I could identify the particular +weapon he handed me." + +"But you admit he loaned you one?" + +"Yes," said Jimmy. + +"What did you do with it?" asked the policeman. + +"I put it in my desk within five minutes after he gave it to me, and I +haven't seen it since." + +"You say you couldn't identify the pistol?" said the officer. + +Jimmy nodded. + +"Well, we can, and have. The number of this pistol was recorded when +Mr. Compton bought it, as was the number of the other one which is still +in his desk. They were the only two pistols he ever bought, according to +Mr. Bince, and his daughter, aside from one which he had at home, which +has also been accounted for. The drawer in which Mr. Bince saw you place +this pistol we found open and the pistol gone. It looks pretty bad for +you, young fellow, and if you want a chance to dodge the rope you'd +better plead guilty and tell us why you did it." + +Jimmy was given little opportunity for sleep that night. A half-dozen +times he was called back to the lieutenant's office for further +questioning. He commenced to realize that the circumstantial evidence +was strongly against him, and now, as the girl had warned him, his +entirely innocent past was brought up against him simply because his +existence had been called to the attention of a policeman, and the same +policeman an inscrutable Fate had ordained should discover him alone +with a murdered man. + +O'Donnell made the most of his meager knowledge of Jimmy. He told the +lieutenant with embellishments of Jimmy's association with such +characters as the Lizard and Little Eva; but the police were still at a +loss to discover a motive. + +This, however, was furnished the next morning, when Elizabeth Compton, +white and heavy-eyed, was brought to the station to identify Jimmy. +There was deep compassion in the young man's face as he was ushered into +the presence of the stricken girl, while at sight of him hers mirrored +horror, contempt, and hatred. + +"You know this man?" asked the lieutenant. + +"Yes," she replied. "His name is Torrance. I have seen him a number of +times in the past year. He worked as a clerk in a store, in the hosiery +department, and waited on me there. Later I"--she hesitated--"I saw +him in a place called Feinheimer's. He was a waiter. Then he was a +sparring partner, I think they call it, for a prizefighter. Some of my +friends took me to a gymnasium to see the fighter training, and I +recognized this man. + +"I saw him again when he was driving a milk-wagon. He delivered milk +at a friend's house where I chanced to be. The last time I saw him was +at my father's home. He had obtained employment in my father's plant as +an efficiency expert. He seemed to exercise some strange power over +father, who believed implicitly in him, until recently, when he +evidently commenced to have doubts; for the night that the man was at +our house I was sitting in the music-room when they passed through the +hallway, and I heard father discharge him. But the fellow pleaded to be +retained, and finally father promised to keep him for a while longer, as +I recall it, at least until certain work was completed at the plant. +This work was completed yesterday. That's all I know. I do not know +whether father discharged him again or not." + +Harriet Holden had accompanied her friend to the police station, and was +sitting close beside her during the examination, her eyes almost +constantly upon the face of the prisoner. She saw no fear there, only an +expression of deep-seated sorrow for her friend. + +The lieutenant was still asking questions when there came a knock at the +door, which was immediately opened, revealing O'Donnell with a young +woman, whom he brought inside. + +"I guess we're getting to the bottom of it," announced the sergeant. +"Look who I found workin' over there as Compton's stenographer." + +"Well, who is she?" demanded the lieutenant. + +"A jane who used to hang out at Feinheimer's. She has been runnin' +around with this bird. They tell me over there that Compton hired her on +this fellow's recommendation. Get hold of the Lizard now, and you'll +have the whole bunch." + +Thus did Sergeant Patrick O'Donnell solve the entire mystery with +Sherlockian ease and despatch. + +At Jimmy's preliminary hearing he was held to the grand jury, and on the +strength of the circumstantial evidence against him that body voted a +true bill. Edith Hudson, against whom there was no evidence of any +nature, was held as a witness for the State, and a net was thrown out +for the Lizard which dragged in nearly every pickpocket in town except +the man they sought. + +Jimmy had been in jail for about a week when he received a visitor. A +turnkey brought her to his cell. It was Harriet Holden. She greeted him +seriously but pleasantly, and then she asked the turnkey if she might go +inside. + +"It's against the rules, miss," he said, "but I guess it will be all +right." He recalled that the sheriff had said that the girl's father was +a friend of his, and so assumed that it would be safe to relax the rules +in her behalf. He had been too long an employee of the county not to +know that rules are often elastic to the proper pressure. + +"I have been wanting to talk to you," said the girl to Jimmy, "ever +since this terrible thing happened. Somehow I can not believe that you +are guilty, and there must be some way in which you can prove your +innocence." + +"I have been trying to think out how I might," said Jimmy, "but the more +I think about it the more damning the circumstantial evidence against me +appears." + +"There must always be a motive for a crime like that," said Harriet. "I +cannot believe that a simple fear of his discharge would be sufficient +motive for any man to kill his employer." + +"Not to kill a man who had been as good to me as Mr. Compton was," said +Jimmy, "or a man whom I admired so much as I did him. As a matter of +fact, he was not going to discharge me, Miss Holden, and I had an +opportunity there for a very successful future; but now that he is dead +there is no one who could verify such a statement on my part." + +"Who could there be, then, who might wish to kill him, and what could +the motive be?" + +"I can only think," said Jimmy, "of one man; and even in his case the +idea is too horrible--too preposterous to be entertained." + +Harriet Holden looked up at him quickly, a sudden light in her eyes, and +an expression of almost horrified incredulity upon her face. "You don't +mean--" she started. + +"I wouldn't even use his name in connection with the thought," Jimmy +interrupted; "but he is the only man of whom I know who could have +profited by Mr. Compton's death, and, on the other hand, whose entire +future would have been blasted possibly had Mr. Compton lived until the +following morning." + +The girl remained for half an hour longer, and when she left she went +directly to the home of Elizabeth Compton. + +"I told you, Elizabeth," she said, "that I was going to see Mr. +Torrance. You dissuaded me for some time, but I finally went today, and +I am glad that I went. No one except yourself could have loved your +father more than I, or have been more horrified or grieved at his death; +but that is no reason why you should aid in the punishment of an +innocent man, as I am confident that this man Torrance is, and I tell +you Elizabeth if you were not prejudiced you would agree with me. + +"I have talked with Torrance for over half an hour to-day, and since +then nothing can ever make me believe that that man could commit a +cold-blooded murder. Harold has always hated him--you admit that +yourself--and now you are permitting him to prejudice you against the +man purely on the strength of that dislike. I am going to help him. I'm +going to do it, not only to obtain justice for him, but to assist in +detecting and punishing the true murderer." + +"I don't see, Harriet, how you can take any interest in such a +creature," said Elizabeth. "You know from the circumstances under which +we saw him before father employed him what type of man he is, and it was +further exemplified by the evidence of his relationship with that common +woman of the streets." + +"He told me about her to-day," replied Harriet. "He had only known her +very casually, but she helped him once--loaned him some money when he +needed it---and when he found that she had been a stenographer and +wanted to give up the life she had been leading and be straight again, +he helped her. + +"I asked Sergeant O'Donnell particularly about that, and even he had to +admit that there was no evidence whatever to implicate the girl or show +that the relations between her and Mr. Torrance had been anything that +was not right; and you know yourself how anxious O'Donnell has been to +dig up evidence of any kind derogatory to either of them." + +"How are you going to help him?" asked Elizabeth. "Take flowers and +cake to him in jail?" + +There was a sneer on her face and on her lips. "If he cares for flowers +and cakes," replied Harriet, "I probably shall; but I have another plan +which will probably be more practical." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +"THE ONLY FRIENDS HE HAS." + +So it befell that the next day a well-known criminal attorney called on +Jimmy Torrance at the county jail. "I understand," he said to Jimmy, +"that you have retained no attorney. I have been instructed by one of my +clients to take your case." + +Jimmy looked at him in silence for a moment. + +"Who is going to pay you?" he asked with a smile. "I understand +attorneys expect to be paid." + +"That needn't worry you!" replied the lawyer. + +"You mean that your client is going to pay for my defense? What's his +name?" + +"That I am not permitted to tell you," replied the lawyer. + +"Very well. Tell your client that I appreciate his kindness, but I +cannot accept it." + +"Don't be a fool," said the attorney. "This client of mine can well +afford the expense, and anyway, my instructions are to defend you +whether you want me to or not, so I guess you can't help yourself." + +Jimmy laughed with the lawyer. "All right," he said. "The first thing I +wish you'd do is to get Miss Hudson out of jail. There is doubtless some +reason for suspicion attaching to me because I was found alone with Mr. +Compton's body, and the pistol with which he was shot was one that had +been given to me and which I kept in my desk, but there is no earthly +reason why she should be detained. She could have had absolutely nothing +to do with it." + +"I will see what can be done," replied the attorney, "although I had no +instructions to defend her also." + +"I will make that one of the conditions under which I will accept your +services," said Jimmy. + +The result was that within a few days Edith was released. From the +moment that she left the jail she was aware that she was being shadowed. + +"I suppose," she thought, "that they expect to open up a fund of new +clues through me," but she was disturbed nevertheless, because she +realized that it was going to make difficult a thing that she had been +trying to find some means to accomplish ever since she had been +arrested. + +She went directly to her apartment and presently took down the +telephone-receiver, and after calling a public phone in a building +down-town, she listened intently while the operator was getting her +connection, and before the connection was made she hung up the receiver +with a smile, for she had distinctly heard the sound of a man's +breathing over the line, and she knew that in all probability O'Donnell +had tapped in immediately on learning that she had been released from +jail. + +That evening she attended a local motion-picture theater which she often +frequented. It was one of those small affairs, the width of a city +block, with a narrow aisle running down either side and an emergency +exit upon the alley at the far end of each aisle. The theater was +darkened when she entered and, a quick glance apprizing her that no one +followed her in immediately, she continued on down one of the side +aisles and passed through the doorway into the alley. + +Five minutes later she was in a telephone-booth in a drug-store two +blocks away. + +"Is this Feinheimer's?" she asked after she had got her connection. "I +want to talk to Carl." She asked for Carl because she knew that this man +who had been head-waiter at Feinheimer's for years would know her voice. + +"Is that you, Carl?" she asked as a man's voice finally answered the +telephone. "This is Little Eva." + +"Oh, hello!" said the man. "I thought you were over at the county jail." + +"I was released to-day," she explained. "Well, listen, Carl; I've got +to see the Lizard. I've simply got to see him to-night. I was being +shadowed, but I got away from them. Do you know where he is?" + +"I guess I could find him," said Carl in a low voice. "You go out to +Mother Kruger's. I'll tell him you'll be there in about an hour." + +"I'll be waiting in a taxi outside," said the girl. + +"Good," said Carl. "If he isn't there in an hour you can know that he +was afraid to come. He's layin' pretty low." + +"All right," said the girl, "I'll be there. You tell him that he simply +must come." She hung up the receiver and then called a taxi. She gave a +number on a side street about a half block away, where she knew it would +be reasonably dark, and consequently less danger of detection. + +Three-quarters of an hour later her taxi drew up beside Mother Kruger's, +but the girl did not alight. She had waited but a short time when +another taxi swung in beside the road-house, turned around and backed up +alongside hers. A man stepped out and peered through the glass of her +machine. It was the Lizard. + +Recognizing the girl he opened the door and took a seat beside her. +"Well," inquired the Lizard, "What's on your mind?" + +"Jimmy," replied the girl. + +"I thought so," returned the Lizard. "It looks pretty bad for him, +don't it? I wish there was some way to help him." + +"He did not do it," said the girl. + +"It didn't seem like him," said the Lizard, "but I got it straight from +a guy who knows that he done it all right." + +"Who?" asked Edith. + +"Murray." + +"I thought he knew a lot about it," said the girl. "That's why I sent +for you. You haven't got any love for Murray, have you?" + +"No," replied the Lizard; "not so you could notice it." + +"I think Murray knows a lot about that job. If you want to help Jimmy I +know where you can get the dope that will start something, anyway." + +"What is it?" asked the Lizard. + +"This fellow Bince, who is assistant general manager for Compton, got a +letter from Murray two or three weeks before Compton was killed. Murray +enclosed a threat signed I.W.W., and his letter instructed Bince to show +the threat to Compton. I haven't got all the dope on it, but I've got a +hunch that in some way it is connected with this job. Anyway, I've got +both Murray's letter and the threat he enclosed. They're hidden in my +desk at the plant. I can't get them, of course; they wouldn't let me in +the place now, and Murray's so strong with the police that I wouldn't +trust them, so I haven't told any one. What I want is for you to go +there to-night and get them." + +The Lizard was thinking fast. The girl knew nothing of his connection +with the job. She did not know that he had entered Compton's office and +had been first to find his dead body; in fact, no one knew that. Even +Murray did not know that the Lizard had succeeded in entering the plant, +as the latter had told him that he was delayed, and that when he reached +there a patrol and ambulance were already backed up in front of the +building. He felt that he had enough knowledge, however, to make the +conviction of Jimmy a very difficult proposition, but if he divulged the +knowledge he had and explained how he came by it he could readily see +that suspicion would be at once transferred from Jimmy to himself. + +The Lizard therefore was in a quandary. Of course, if Murray's +connection was ever discovered the Lizard might then be drawn into it, +but if he could keep Murray out the Lizard would be reasonably safe from +suspicion, and now the girl had shown him how he might remove a damaging +piece of evidence against Murray. + +"You will get it, won't you?" asked the girl. + +"Where are these papers?" he asked. + +"They are in the outer office which adjoins Mr. Compton's. My desk +stands at the right of the door as you enter from the main office. +Remove the right-hand lower drawer and you will find the papers lying on +the little wooden partition directly underneath the drawer." + +"All right," said the Lizard; "I'll get them." + +"Bless you, Lizard," cried the girl. "I knew you would help. You and I +are the only friends he has. If we went back on him he'd be sent up, for +there's lots of money being used against him. He might even be hanged. I +know from what I have heard that the prosecuting attorney intends to ask +for the death penalty." + +The Lizard made no reply as he started to leave the taxi. + +"Take them to his attorney," said the girl, and she gave him the name +and address. + +The Lizard grunted and entered his own cab. As he did so a man on a +motorcycle drew up on the opposite side and peered through the window. +The driver had started his motor as the newcomer approached. From her +cab the girl saw the Lizard and the man on the motorcycle look into each +other's face for a moment, then she heard the Lizard's quick admonition +to his driver, "Beat it, bo!" + +A sharp "Halt!" came from the man on the motorcycle, but the taxicab +leaped forward, and, accelerating rapidly, turned to the left into the +road toward the city. The girl had guessed at the first glance that the +man on the motorcycle was a police officer. As the Lizard's taxi raced +away the officer circled quickly and started in pursuit. "No chance," +thought the girl. "He'll get caught sure." She could hear the staccato +reports from the open exhaust of the motorcycle diminishing rapidly in +the distance, indicating the speed of the pursued and the pursuer. + +And then from the distance came a shot and then another and another. +She leaned forward and spoke to her own driver. "Go on to Elmhurst," she +said, "and then come back to the city on the St. Charles Road." + +It was after two o'clock in the morning when the Lizard entered an +apartment on Ashland Avenue which he had for several years used as a +hiding-place when the police were hot upon his trail. The people from +whom he rented the room were eminently respectable Jews who thought +their occasional roomer what he represented himself to be, a special +agent for one of the federal departments, a vocation which naturally +explained the Lizard's long absences and unusual hours. + +Once within his room the Lizard sank into a chair and wiped the +perspiration from his forehead, although it was by no means a warm +night. He drew a folded paper from his inside pocket, which, when +opened, revealed a small piece of wrapping paper within. They were +Murray's letter to Bince and the enclosure. + +"Believe me," muttered the Lizard, "that was the toughest job I ever +pulled off and all I gets is two pieces of paper, but I don't know but +what they're worth it." + +He sat for a long time looking at the papers in his hand, but he did not +see them. He was thinking of other things: of prison walls that he had +eluded so far through years of crime; of O'Donnell, whom he knew to be +working on the Compton case and whose boast it had been that sooner or +later he would get the Lizard; of what might naturally be expected were +the papers in his hands to fall into the possession of Torrance's +attorney. It would mean that Murray would be immediately placed in +jeopardy, and the Lizard knew Murray well enough to know that he would +sacrifice his best friend to save himself, and the Lizard was by no +means Murray's best friend. + +He realized that he knew more about the Compton murder case than any one +else. He was of the opinion that he could clear it up if he were almost +any one other than the Lizard, but with the record of his past life +against him, would any one believe him? In order to prove his assertion +it would be necessary to make admissions that might incriminate himself, +and there would be Murray and the Compton millions against him; and as +he pondered these things there ran always through his mind the words of +the girl, "You and I are the only friends he has." + +"Hell," ejaculated the Lizard as he rose from his chair and prepared for +bed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE TRIAL. + +Edith Hudson spent a restless night, and early in the morning, as early +as she thought she could reach him, she called the office of Jimmy's +attorney. She told the lawyer that some new evidence was to have been +brought in to him and asked if he had received it. Receiving a negative +reply she asked that she be called the moment it was brought in. + +All that day and the next she waited, scarcely leaving her room for fear +that the call might come while she was away. The days ran into weeks and +still there was no word from the Lizard. + +Jimmy was brought to trial, and she saw him daily in the courtroom and +as often as they would let her she would visit him in jail. On several +occasions she met Harriet Holden, also visiting him, and she saw that +the other young woman was as constant an attendant at court as she. + +The State had established as unassailable a case as might be built on +circumstantial evidence. Krovac had testified that Torrance had made +threats against Compton in his presence, and there was no way in which +Jimmy's attorneys could refute the perjured statement. Jimmy himself had +come to realize that his attorney was fighting now for his life, that +the verdict of the jury was already a foregone conclusion and that the +only thing left to fight for now was the question of the penalty. + +Daily he saw in the court-room the faces of the three girls who had +entered so strangely into his life. He noticed, with not a little sorrow +and regret, that Elizabeth Compton and Harriet Holden always sat apart +and that they no longer spoke. He saw the effect of the strain of the +long trial on Edith Hudson. She looked wan and worried, and then finally +she was not in court one day, and later, through Harriet Holden, he +learned that she was confined to her room with a bad cold. + +Jimmy's sentiments toward the three women whose interests brought them +daily to the court-room had undergone considerable change. The girl that +he had put upon a pedestal to worship from afar, the girl to whom he had +given an idealistic love, he saw now in another light. His reverence for +her had died hard, but in the face of her arrogance, her vindictiveness +and her petty snobbery it had finally succumbed, so that when he +compared her with the girl who had been of the street the latter +suffered in no way by the comparison. + +Harriet Holden's friendship and loyalty were a never-ending source of +wonderment to him, but he accepted her own explanation, which, indeed, +was fair enough, that her innate sense of justice had compelled her to +give him her sympathy and assistance. + +Just how far that assistance had gone Jimmy did not know, though of late +he had come to suspect that his attorney was being retained by Harriet +Holden's father. + +Bince appeared in the court-room only when necessity compelled his +presence on the witness stand. The nature of the man's testimony was +such that, like Krovac's, it was difficult of impeachment, although +Jimmy was positive that Bince perjured himself, especially in a +statement that he made of a conversation he had with Mr. Compton the +morning of the murder, in which he swore that Compton stated that he +intended to discharge Torrance that day. + +The effect of the trial seemed to have made greater inroads upon Bince +than upon Jimmy. The latter gave no indication of nervous depression or +of worry, while Bince, on the other hand, was thin, pale and haggard. +His hands and face continually moved and twitched as he sat in the +courtroom or on the witness chair. Never for an instant was he at rest. + +Elizabeth Compton had noticed this fact, too, and commented upon it one +evening when Bince was at her home. + +"What's the matter with you, Harold?" she asked. "You look as though +you are on the verge of nervous prostration." + +"I've had enough to make any man nervous," retorted Bince irritably. "I +can't get over this terrible affair, and in addition I have had all the +weight and responsibility of the business on my shoulders since, and the +straightening out of your father's estate, which, by the way, was in +pretty bad shape. + +"I wish, Elizabeth," he went on, "that we might be married immediately. +I have asked you so many times before, however, and you have always +refused, that I suppose it is useless now. I believe that I would get +over this nervous condition if you and I were settled down here +together. I have no real home, as you know--the club is just a +stopping place. I might as well be living at a hotel. If after the day's +work I could come home to a regular home it would do me a world of good, +I know. We could be married quietly. There is every reason why we +should, especially now that you are left all alone." + +"Just what do you mean by immediately?" she asked. + +"To-morrow," he replied. + +For a long time she demurred, but finally she acceded to his wishes, for +an early marriage, though she would not listen to the ceremony being +performed the following day. They reached a compromise on Friday +morning, a delay of only a few days, and Harold Bince breathed more +freely thereafter than he had for a long time before. + +Mr. and Mrs. Harold Bince entered the court-room late on Friday morning +following the brief ceremony that had made them man and wife. It had +been generally supposed that to-day the case would go to the jury as the +evidence was all in, and the final arguments of the attorneys, which had +started the preceding day, would be concluded during the morning +session. It had been conceded that the judge's charge would be brief and +perfunctory, and there was even hope that the jury might return a +verdict before the close of the afternoon session, but when Bince and +his bride entered the court-room they found Torrance's attorney making a +motion for the admission of new evidence on the strength of the recent +discovery of witnesses, the evidence of whom he claimed would materially +alter the aspect of the case. + +An hour was consumed in argument before the judge finally granted the +motion. The first of the new witnesses called was an employee of the +International Machine Company. After the usual preliminary questions the +attorney for the defense asked him if he was employed in the plant on +the afternoon of March 24. The reply was in the affirmative. + +"Will you tell the jury, please, of any occurrence that you witnessed +there that afternoon out of the ordinary?" + +"I was working at my machine," said the witness, "when Pete Krovac comes +to me and asks me to hide behind a big drill-press and watch what the +assistant general manager done when he comes through the shop again. So +I hides there and I saw this man Bince come along and drop an envelope +beside Krovac's machine, and after he left I comes out as Krovac picks +it up, and I seen him take some money out of it." + +"How much money?" asked the attorney. + +"There was fifty dollars there. He counted it in front of me." + +"Did he say what it was for?" + +"Yes, he said Bince gave it to him to croak this fellow"--nodding +toward Jimmy. + +"What fellow?" asked the attorney. "You mean Mr. Torrance, the +defendant?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"And what else? What happened after that?" + +"Krovac said he'd split it with me if I'd go along and help him." + +"Did you?" + +"Yes." + +"What happened?" + +"The guy beat up Krovac and come near croaking me, and got away." + +"That is all," said the attorney. + +The prosecuting attorney, whose repeated objections to the testimony of +the witness had been overruled, waived cross-examination. + +Turning to the clerk, "Please call Stephen Murray," said Jimmy's +attorney. + +Murray, burly and swaggering, took the witness chair. The attorney +handed him a letter. It was the letter that Murray had written Bince +enclosing the supposed I.W.W. threat. + +"Did you ever see that before?" he asked. + +Murray took the letter and read it over several times. He was trying to +see in it anything which could possibly prove damaging to him. + +"Sure," he said at last in a blustering tone of voice. "I wrote it. +But what of it?" + +"And this enclosure?" asked the attorney. He handed Murray the slip +of soiled wrapping paper with the threat lettered upon it. "This was +received with your letter." + +Murray hesitated before replying. "Oh," he said, "that ain't nothing. +That was just a little joke." + +"You were seen in Feinheimer's with Mr. Bince on March--Do you recall +the object of this meeting?" + +"Mr. Bince thought there was going to be a strike at his plant and he +wanted me to fix it up for him," replied Murray. + +"You know the defendant, James Torrance?" + +"Yes." + +"Didn't he knock you down once for insulting a girl?" Murray flushed, +but was compelled to admit the truth of the allegation. + +"You haven't got much use for him, have you?" continued the attorney. + +"No, I haven't," replied Murray. + +"You called the defendant on the telephone a half or three-quarters of +an hour before the police discovered Mr. Compton's body, did you not?" + +Murray started to deny that he had done so. Jimmy's attorney stopped +him. "Just a moment, Mr. Murray," he said, "if you will stop a moment +and give the matter careful thought I am sure you will recall that you +telephoned Mr. Torrance at that time, and that you did it in the +presence of a witness," and the attorney pointed toward the back of the +court-room. Murray looked in the direction that the other indicated and +again he paled and his hand trembled where it rested on the arm of his +chair, for seated in the back of the courtroom was the head-waiter from +Feinheimer's. "Now do you recall?" asked the attorney. + +Murray was silent for a moment. Suddenly he half rose from his chair. +"Yes I remember it," he said. "They are all trying to double-cross me. I +had nothing to do with killing Compton. That wasn't in the deal at all. +Ask that man there; he will tell you that I had nothing to do with +killing Compton. He hired me and he knows," and with shaking finger +Murray pointed at Mr. Harold Bince where he sat with his wife beside the +prosecuting attorney. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +THE VERDICT. + +For a moment there was tense silence in the court-room which was broken +by the defense's perfunctory "Take the witness" to the prosecuting +attorney, but again cross-examination was waived. + +"Call the next witness, please," and a moment later the Lizard emerged +from the witness-room. + +"I wish you would tell the jury," said the counsel for defense after the +witness had been sworn, "just what you told me in my office yesterday +afternoon." + +"Yes, sir," said the Lizard. "You see, it was like this: Murray there +sent for me and tells me that he's got a job for me. He wants me to go +and crack a safe at the International Machine Company's plant. He said +there was a fellow on the inside helping him, that there wouldn't be any +watchman there that night and that in the safe I was to crack was some +books and papers that was to be destroyed, and on top of it was three or +four thousand dollars in pay-roll money that I was to have as my pay for +the job. Murray told me that the guy on the inside who wanted the job +done had been working some kind of a pay-roll graft and he wanted the +records destroyed, and he also wanted to get rid of the guy that was hep +to what he had been doin'. All that I had to do with it was go and crack +the safe and get the records, which I was to throw in the river, and +keep the money for myself, but the frame-up on the other guy was to send +him a phony message that would get him at the plant after I got through, +and then notify the police so they could catch him there in the room +with the cracked safe. + +"I didn't know who they were framin' this job on. If I had I wouldn't +have had nothin' to do with it. + +"Well, I goes to the plant and finds a window in the basement open just +as they tells me it will be, but when I gets on the first floor just +before I go up-stairs to the office, which is on the second floor, I +heard some one walking around up-stairs. I hid in the hallway while he +came down. He stopped at the front door and lighted a cigarette and then +he went on out, and I went up-stairs to finish the job. + +"When I gets in Compton's office where the safe is I flashes my light +and the first thing I sees is Compton's body on the floor beside his +desk. That kind of stuff ain't in my line, so I beats it out without +crackin' the safe. That's all I know about it until I sees the papers, +and then for a while I was afraid to say anything because this guy +O'Donnell has it in for me, and I know enough about police methods to +know that they could frame up a good case of murder against me. But +after a while Miss Hudson finds me and puts it up to me straight that +this guy Torrance hasn't got no friends except me and her. + +"Of course she didn't know how much I knew, but I did, and it's been +worryin' me ever since. I was waiting, though, hopin' that something +would turn up so that he would be acquitted, but I been watchin' the +papers close, and I seen yesterday that there wasn't much chance, so +here I am." + +"You say that a man came down from Mr. Compton's office just before you +went up? What time was that?" + +"It was about ten o'clock, about half an hour before the cops finds +Torrance there." + +"And then you went upstairs and found Mr. Compton dead?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"You say this man that came downstairs stopped and lighted a +cigarette before he left the building. Did you see his face?" + +"Yes, I did." + +"Would you recognize him if you saw him again?" + +"Sure." + +"Look around the court-room and see if you can find him here." + +"Sure I can find him. I seen him when I first came in, but I can't see +his face because he's hiding behind the prosecuting attorney." + +All eyes were turned in the direction of the prosecuting attorney to see +Bince leap suddenly to his feet and lean forward upon the desk before +him, supported by a trembling arm as he shook his finger at the Lizard, +and in high-pitched tones screamed, "It's a lie! It's a lie!" + +For a moment longer he stood looking wildly about the room, and then +with rapid strides he crossed it to an open window, and before any one +could interfere he vaulted out, to fall four stories to the cement +sidewalk below. + +For several minutes pandemonium reigned in the court-room. Elizabeth +Compton Bince swooned, and when she regained consciousness she found +herself in the arms of Harriet Holden. + +"Take me home, Harriet," she asked; "take me away from this place. Take +me to your home. I do not want to go back to mine yet." + +Half an hour later, in accordance with the judge's charge to the jury, a +verdict of "Not guilty" was rendered in the case of the People of +Illinois versus James Torrance, Jr. + +Mr. Holden and Jimmy's attorney were the first to congratulate him, and +the former insisted that he come home with him to dinner. + +"I am sorry," said Jimmy; "I should like to immensely, but there is some +one I must see first. If I may I should like to come out later in the +evening to thank you and Miss Holden." + +Jimmy searched about the court-room until he found the Lizard. "I don't +know how to thank you," he said. + +"Don't then," said the Lizard. "Who you ought to thank is that little +girl who is sick in bed up on the north side." + +"That's just where I am going now," said Jimmy. "Is she very sick?" + +"Pneumonia," said the Lizard. "I telephoned her doctor just before I +came over here, and I guess if you want to see her at all you'd better +hurry." + +"It's not that had, is it?" Jimmy said. + +"I'm afraid it is," said the Lizard. + +Jimmy lost no time in reaching the street and calling a taxi. A nurse +admitted him to the apartment. "How is she?" he asked. + +The nurse shook her head. + +"Can she see any one?" + +"It won't make any difference now," said the nurse, and Jimmy was led +into the room where the girl, wasted by fever and suffering, lay in a +half-comatose condition upon her narrow bed. Jimmy crossed the room and +laid his hand upon her forehead and at the touch she opened her eyes and +looked up at him. He saw that she recognized him and was trying to say +something, and he kneeled beside the bed so that his ear might be closer +to her lips. + +"Jimmy," she whispered, "you are free? Tell me." + +He told her briefly of what had happened. "I am so happy," she murmured. +"Oh, Jimmy, I am so happy!" + +He took one of her wasted hands in his own and carried it to his lips. +"Not on the hand," she said faintly. "Just once, on the lips, before I +die." + +He gathered her in his arms and lifted her face to his. "Dear little +girl," he said, "you are not going to die. It is not as bad as that." + +She did not reply, but only clung to him tightly, and against his cheek +he felt her tears and a little choking sob before she relaxed, and he +laid her back again on her pillow. He thought she was dead then and he +called the nurse, but she still breathed, though her eyes were closed. +Jimmy sat down on the edge of the bed beside her and stroked her hand. +After a while she roused again and opened her eyes. + +"Jimmy," she said, "will you stay with me until I go?" The man could +make no articulate response, but he pressed her hand reassuringly. She +was silent again for some time. Once more she whispered faintly, so +faintly that he had to lean close to catch her words: + +"Miss Holden," she whispered, "she is a--good girl. It is--she--who +hired--the attorney for you. Go to her--Jimmy--when I--am +gone--she loves--you." Again there was a long pause. + +"Good-by--Jimmy," she whispered at last. + +The nurse was standing at the foot of the bed. She came and put her +hand on Jimmy's shoulder. "It is too bad," she said; "she was such a +good girl." + +"Yes," said Jimmy, "I think she was the best little girl I ever knew." + +It was after nine o'clock when Jimmy, depressed and sorrowing, arrived +at the Holden home. The houseman who admitted him told him that Mr. +Holden had been called out, but that Miss Holden was expecting him, and +he ushered Jimmy to the big living-room, and to his consternation he saw +that Elizabeth Compton was there with Harriet. The latter came forward +to greet him, and to his surprise the other girl followed her. + +"I discovered to-day, Mr. Torrance," she said, "that I have wronged you. +However unintentionally it was the fact remains that I might have done +you a very great harm and injustice. I realize now how very different +things might have been if I had listened to you and believed in you at +first. Harriet told me that you were coming tonight and I asked to see +you for just a moment to tell you this and also to ask you if you would +continue with the International Machine Company. + +"There is no one now whom I feel I would have so much confidence in as +you. I wish you would come back and take charge for me. If you will tell +me that you will consider it we will arrange the details later." + +If an archangel had suddenly condescended to honor him with an +invitation to assist in the management of Heaven Jimmy could not have +been more surprised. He realized at what cost of pride and self-esteem +the offer must have been made and acknowledgment of error. He told her +that he would be very glad to assist her for the present, at least, and +then she excused herself on the plea of nervous exhaustion and went to +her room. + +"Do you know," said Harriet, after Elizabeth had gone, "she really feels +worse over her past attitude toward you than she does over Harold's +death? I think she realizes now what I have told her from the first, +that she never really loved him. Of course, her pride has suffered +terribly, but she will get over that quickly enough. + +"But do you know I have not had an opportunity before to congratulate +you? I wish that I might have been there to have heard the verdict, but +really you don't look half as happy as I should think you would feel." + +"I am happy about that," said Jimmy, "but on top of my happiness came a +sorrow. I just came from Edith's apartment. She died while I was there." + +Harriet gave a little cry of shocked surprise. "Oh, Jimmy," she cried, +laying her hand upon his arm. "Oh, Jimmy, I am so sorry!" It was the +first time that she had ever addressed him by his given name, but there +seemed nothing strange or unusual in the occurrence. + +"She was such a good little girl," said Harriet. + +It was strange that so many should use these same words in connection +with Edith Hudson, and even this girl, so far removed from the sphere in +which Little Eva had existed and who knew something of her past, could +yet call her "good." + +It gave Jimmy a new insight into the sweetness and charity of Harriet +Holden's character. "Yes," he said, "her soul and her heart were good +and pure." + +"She believed so in you," said the girl. "She thought you were the best +man who ever lived. She told me that you were the only really good man +she had ever known, and her confidence and belief in you were +contagious. You will probably never know all that she did for you. It +was really she that imbued my father and his attorney with a belief in +your innocence, and it was she who influenced the Lizard to take the +stand in your behalf. Yes, she was a very good friend." + +"And you have been a good friend," said Jimmy. "In the face of the same +circumstances that turned Miss Compton against me you believed in me. +Your generosity made it possible for me to be defended by the best +attorney in Chicago, but more than all that to me has been your +friendship and the consciousness of your sympathy at a time when, above +all things, I needed sympathy. And now, after all you have done for me I +came to ask still more of you." + +"What do you want?" she asked. + +She was standing very close to him, looking up in his face. + +"You, Harriet," he said. + +She smiled tremulously. "I have been yours for a long time, Jimmy, but +you didn't know it." + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Efficiency Expert, by Edgar Rice Burroughs + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EFFICIENCY EXPERT *** + +***** This file should be named 3475.txt or 3475.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/7/3475/ + +Produced by Fred M. Adams (fsadams@magma.cs) + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/3475.zip b/3475.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8a86584 --- /dev/null +++ b/3475.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..928e84f --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #3475 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3475) diff --git a/old/effnc10.zip b/old/effnc10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f72901b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/effnc10.zip diff --git a/old/effnc10h.zip b/old/effnc10h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e6ebfeb --- /dev/null +++ b/old/effnc10h.zip diff --git a/old/effnc10l.zip b/old/effnc10l.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..56b742a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/effnc10l.zip diff --git a/old/effnc10p.zip b/old/effnc10p.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d5cf683 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/effnc10p.zip diff --git a/old/effnc11.zip b/old/effnc11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..021746e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/effnc11.zip diff --git a/old/effnc11h.zip b/old/effnc11h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..16aacb4 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/effnc11h.zip diff --git a/old/effnc11l.zip b/old/effnc11l.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..250de48 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/effnc11l.zip diff --git a/old/effnc11p.zip b/old/effnc11p.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..07016f1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/effnc11p.zip |