the efficiency expert-第9节

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；　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　you　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　1　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　charitywhen　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　eventshumiliation；　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　gohe　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　cha