★ 10 ★::A Gentleman of Leisure
Jimmy Adopts a Lame Dog
A black itself from the and to where Jimmy on the doorstep.
“That you, Spike?” asked Jimmy, in a low voice.
“Dat’s right, boss.”
“Come on in.”
He the way up to his rooms, on the electric light, and the door. Spike at the glare. He his in his hands. His red fiercely.
Jimmy him out of the of his eye, and came to the that the Mullins must be at a low ebb. Spike’s in from that of the ordinary well-groomed man about town. There was nothing of the flâneur about the Bowery boy. His was of the soft black on the East Side of New York. It was in condition, and looked as if it had been up too late the night before. A black tail-coat, at the and with mud, was across his chest, this with the idea of the that he no shirt—an attempt which was not successful. A pair of and boots, out of which two coyly, the picture.
Even Spike himself to be aware that there were points in his which would have the of the Tailor and Cutter.
“’Scuse these duds,” he said. “Me man’s an’ de me best in. Dis is me number two.”
“Don’t mention it, Spike,” said Jimmy. “You look a perfect idol. Have a drink?”
Spike’s as he for the decanter. He took a seat.
“Cigar, Spike?”
“Sure. T’anks, boss.”
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Jimmy his pipe. Spike, after a sips, off his and the of his at a gulp.
“Try another?” Jimmy.
Spike’s that the idea had been well received.
Jimmy sat and in for a while. He was the thing over. He like a who has a clue. At last he would be able to the name of the Mauretania girl. The would not take him very far, certainly, but it would be something. Possibly Spike might be able to the position of the house they had into that night.
Spike was looking at him over his with admiration. This flat, which Jimmy had rented for a year, in the that the of a might help to tie him to one spot, was handsomely, luxuriously, furnished. To Spike every chair and table in the room had a of its own as having been purchased out of the of that New Asiatic Bank robbery, or from the revenue from the Duchess of Havent’s jewels. He was with for one who make pay to this extent. In his own case the had provided anything more than and and an occasional to Coney Island.
Jimmy his eye, and spoke.
“Well, Spike,” he said. “Curious that we should meet like this?”
“De limit,” Spike.
“I can’t you three thousand miles from New York. How do you know the still on Broadway?”
A look came into Spike’s eyes.
“I t’ought it was time I give old Lunnon a call. T’ings was too in Noo York. De was layin’ for me. Dey didn’t like as if they had any use for me. So I it.”
“Bad luck,” said Jimmy.
“Fierce,” Spike.
“Do you know, Spike,” said Jimmy, “I a great of time I left New York looking for you.”
“Gee, I wish you’d me. And did want me to help on some lay, boss?”
“Well, no, not that. Do you that night we into that house up-town—the police-captain’s house?”
“Sure.”
“What was his name?”
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“What, de cop’s? Why, McEachern, boss.”
“Mac what? How do you spell it?”
“Search me,” said Spike, simply.
“Say it again. Fill your and slowly and clearly. Be bell-like. Now.”
“McEachern.”
“Ah! And where was the house? Can you that?”
Spike’s wrinkled.
“It’s gone,” he said at last. “It was up some up de town.”
“That’s a of help,” said Jimmy. “Try again.”
“It’ll come some time, boss, sure.”
“Then I’m going to keep an on you till it does. Just for the moment you’re the most man in the world to me. Where are you living?”
“Me? Why, in de Park. Dat’s right. One of benches a southern exposure.”
“Well, unless you it, you needn’t sleep in the Park any more. You can your moving with me.”
“What, here, boss?”
“Unless we move.”
“Me dis,” said Spike, in his chair.
“You’ll want some clothes,” said Jimmy. “We’ll those to-morrow. You’re the of they can fit off the peg. You’re not too tall, which is a good thing.”
“Bad t’ing for me, boss. If I’d I’d have for being a cop, and a brown-stone house on Fifth Avenue by this. It’s de makes de big money in little old Manhattan, dat’s who it is.”
“The man who knows!” said Jimmy. “Tell me more, Spike. I a good many of the New York do rich by graft?”
“Sure. Look at old man McEachern.”
“I wish I could. Tell me about him, Spike. You to know him well.”
“Me? Sure. Dere wasn’t a him in de bunch. He was out for the all the time. But, say, did see his girl?”
“What’s that?” said Jimmy sharply.
“I her once.” Spike almost in his enthusiasm. “Gee, she was a bird. A for fair. I’d have left me 63happy home for her. Molly was her monaker. She——”
Jimmy was at him.
“Drop it!” he cried.
“What’s dat, boss?” said Spike.
“Cut it out!” said Jimmy savagely.
Spike looked at him amazed.
“Sure,” he said, puzzled, but that his had not pleased the great man.
Jimmy the of his pipe irritably, while Spike, full of excellent intentions, sat on the of his chair at his cigar and what he had done to give offence.
“Boss?” said Spike.
“Halloa!”
“Boss, what’s doin’ here? Put me next to de game. Is it de old lay? Banks and from duchesses! You’ll be able to let me in on de game, won’t you?”
“I’d I hadn’t told you about myself, Spike. I’ve retired.”
The truth slowly into the other’s mind.
“Say! What’s dat, boss? You’re cuttin’ it out?”
“That’s it. Absolutely.”
“Ain’t no more jools?”
“Not me.”
“Nor usin’ de what’s-its-name blow-pipe?”
“I have my blow-pipe, away my anaesthetics, and am going to turn over a new and settle as a citizen.”
Spike gasped. His world had about his ears. His with Jimmy, the master cracksman, in New York had been the and memory of his life, and now that he had met him again in London, he had looked to a long and partnership in crime. He was that his own in the partnership should be humble. It was for him to be connected, humbly, with such a master. He had looked upon the of London, and he had said with Blucher, “What a city to loot!”
And here was his his with a word.
“Have another drink, Spike,” said the Lost Leader sympathetically. “It’s a to you, I expect.”
“I t’ought, boss——”
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“I know, I know. These are life’s tragedies. I’m very sorry for you; but it can’t be helped.”
Spike sat silent, with a long face. Jimmy him on the shoulder.
“Cheer up,” he said. “How do you know that may not be fun? Numbers of people do it, you know, and themselves tremendously. You must give it a trial, Spike.”
“Me, boss? What, me too?”
“Rather. You’re my link with——I don’t want to have you that address in the second month of a ten-year spell at Dartmoor. I’m going to look after you, Spike, my son, like a lynx. We’ll go out together and see life. Buck up, Spike! Be cheerful! Grin!”
After a moment’s the other grinned, faintly.
“That’s right,” said Jimmy. “We’ll go into society, Spike, hand in hand. You’ll be a success in society. All you have to do is to look cheerful, your hair, and keep your hands off the spoons, for in the best circles they count them after the of the last guest.”
“Sure,” said Spike, as one who this precaution.
“And now,” said Jimmy, “we’ll be in. Can you manage sleeping on the sofa one night? Some would give their up to you. However, I’ll have a up for you to-morrow.”
“Me!” said Spike. “Gee! I’ve been sleepin’ in de Park all de last week. Dis is to de good, boss.”
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