was thoughtful for a few moments.
“By the way, what is your name?” he inquired at last.
“James Shepherd, sir,” the man answered,—“generally called Jim, sir.”
“Well, you see, Shepherd,” Laverick continued, “the difficulty is, in your case, as in all similar ones, that one never knows where the thing will end. A thousand pounds is a considerable sum, but in four amounts, with three months interval between each, it could be arranged. This would be better for you, in any case. Two hundred and fifty pounds is not an unheard-of sum for you to have saved or got together. After that your investments would be my lookout, and they would produce, as I have said, another seven hundred and fifty pounds. But what security have I—has Mr. Morrison, let us say—that you will be content with this sum?”
“He hasn’t any, sir,” the man admitted at once. “He couldn’t have any. I’m a modest-living man, and I’ve no desire to go shouting around that I’m independent all of a sudden. That wouldn’t do nohow. A thousand pounds would bring me in near enough a pound a week if I invested it, or two pounds a week for an annuity, my health being none too good. I’ve no wife or children, sir. I was thinking of an annuity. With two pounds a week I’d have no cause to trouble any one again.”
Laverick considered.
“It shall be done,” he said. “To-morrow I shall buy shares for you to the extent of two hundred and fifty pounds. They will be deposited in a bank. Some day you can look in and see me, and I will take you round there. You are my client who has speculated under my instructions successfully, and you will sign your name and become a customer. After that, you will speculate again. When your thousand pounds has been made, I will show you how to buy an annuity. Keep your mouth shut, and last night will be the luckiest night of your life. Do you drink?”
“A drop or two, sir,” the man admitted. “If I didn’t, I guess I’d go off my chump.”
“Do you talk when you’re drunk?” Laverick asked.
“Never, sir,” the man declared. “I’ve a way of getting a drop too much when I’m by myself. Then I tumbles off to sleep and that’s the end of it. I’ve no fancy for company at such times.”
“It’s a good thing,” Laverick remarked, thrusting his hand into his pocket. “Here’s a five-pound note on account. I daresay you can manage to keep sober to-night, at any rate. That’s all, isn’t it?”
“That’s all, sir,” the man answered, “unless I might make so bold as to ask whether Mr. Morrison has really hooked it?”
“Mr. Morrison had decided to hook it, as you graphically say, before he came in for that drink to your bar, Shepherd,” Laverick affirmed. “Business had been none too good with us, and we had had a disagreement.”
The man nodded.
“I see, sir,” he said, taking up his hat. “Good night, sir!”
“Good night!” Laverick answered. “You can find your way down?”
“Quite well, sir, and thank you,” declared Mr. Shepherd, closing the door softly behind him.
Laverick sat down in his chair. He had forgotten that he was hungry. He was faced now with a new tragedy.
XVIII. THE LONELY CHORUS GIRL
They stood together upon the platform watching the receding train. The girl’s eyes were filled with tears, but Laverick was conscious of a sense of immense relief. Morrison had been at the station some time before the train was due to leave, and, although a physical wreck, he seemed only too anxious to depart. He had all the appearance of a broken-spirited man. He looked about him on the platform, and even from the carriage, in the furtive way of a criminal expecting apprehension at any moment. The whistle of the train had been a relief as great to him as to Laverick.
“We’ll write you to New York, care of Barclays,” Laverick called out. “Good luck, Morrison! Pull yourself together and make a fresh start.”
Morrison’s only reply was a somewhat feeble nod. Laverick had not attempted to shake hands. He felt himself at the last moment, stirred almost to anger by the perfunctory farewell which was all this man had offered to the girl he had treated so inconsiderately. His thoughts were engrossed upon himself and his own danger. He would not even have kissed her if she had not drawn his face down to hers and whispered a reassuring little message. Laverick turned away. For some reason or other he felt himself shuddering. Conversation during those last few moments had been increasingly difficult. The train was off at last, however, and they were alone.
The girl drew a long breath, which might very well have been one of relief. They turned silently toward the exit.
“Are you going back home?” Laverick asked.
“Yes,” she answered listlessly. “There is nothing else to do.”
“Isn’t it rather sad for you there by yourself?”
She nodded.
“It is the first time,” she said. “Another girl and her mother have lived with me always. They started off last week, touring. They are paying a little toward the house or I should have to go into rooms. As it is, I think that it would be more comfortable.”
Laverick looked at her wonderingly.
“You seem such a child,” he said, “to be left all alone in the world like this.”
“But I am not a child actually, you see,” she answered, with an effort at lightness. “Somehow, though, I do miss Arthur’s going. His father was always very good to me, and made him promise that he would do what he could. I didn’t see much of him, but one felt always that there was somebody. It’s different now. It makes one feel very lonely.”
“I, too,” Laverick said, with commendable mendacity, “am rather a lonely person. You must let me see something of you now and then.”
She looked up at him quickly. Her gaze was altogether disingenuous, but her eyes—those wonderful eyes—spoke volumes.
“If you really mean it,” she said, “I should be so glad.”
“Supposing we start to-day,” he suggested, smiling. “I cannot ask you to lunch, as I have a busy day before me, but we might have dinner together quite early. Then I would take you to the theatre and meet you afterwards, if you liked.”
“If I liked!” she whispered. “Oh, how good you are.”
“I am not at all sure about that. Now I’ll put you in this taxi and send you home.”
She laughed.
“You mustn’t do anything so extravagant. I can get a ‘bus just outside. I never have taxicabs.”
“Just this morning,” he insisted, “and I think he won’t trouble you for his fare. You must let me, please. Remember that there’s a large account
