ening. His conversation and short visit with Farland had put him in a better humor. There was no mistaking the quality of Farland's friendship. He and Prale had been firm fr

panish love song again, and told himself that Rufus Shepley and Kate Gilbert, old Griffin and the hotel manager and the rest of the mot

the great shops had their lights out and their night curtai

d!

recognize the voice. A medium-sized man stood before him, a man

ou know

say tha

he only relative you've got in the world, u

he nearest light flashed on t

ecognize you at first. How long have yo

a bit. "I saw your name in the passenger list, Sid, and

otel, then, or leave a note?"

ed to tal

e you doing for yourself, George? S

an office of

along a

id. "Business has been p

investments for me, then," Pral

at you're worth

me back to New York to enjoy it

d rathe

old times and find out about each

side by side for Griffin, the broker. There was something furtive and shifty about George Lerton, but he never had presu

acter that Prale did not admire, but he always told himself that perhaps he was

as we walk along

replied. "We can get together later, I suppose

I am a

aid Prale.

ldren. I-I marr

" Pral

him down for a man with money-and that man had not been George

him over, soon. She couldn't endure him, even with all his money. She regretted her quarrel with you. I'm quite sure she wan

ed her," s

went away, Sid. She died afte

nted money, and I

and, and turned it into a hundred thousand inside four months. I kept o

s a good woman, in a way, and I'm sorry you lost her. I

g to stay her

est of my days. I've come home for good, George. The United States is plen

re not go

Honduras except a few friends. I suppose I'll run down there so

, Sid!" Lert

t do

ick as you can! Go back to Honduras-

n earth is the matter wi

l you that much. That's why I didn't call at the hotel; I'm afraid. Sid, I'm afraid to

Sidney Prale,

't expla

o endure any more!" Prale said. "You're going to open your

onscious, Sid, but you can't m

does it

; you'd better get out of

haven't done anything wrong. I'm back in my old home, and I

u're in

m what?" Sidne

owerful ene

hy

mers have informed me that they are through doing business with me if I have a

ies? Why? Busi

don't

us Shepley raised such a row with me! Powerful enemies, have I? But there isn't sense in it! I ha

've got money-you

nd I'm going to l

try i

open your face and talk! I never did have any too much love for you, and you can wa

nything more

hoke it out of

It would give you

't come back to New York to back down in front of a man like you-or half a hundred like you. Maybe that is strong talk-but you have it coming! Give my enemies a ch

ay, Sid. I'm talkin

a few dollars, by standing by your cousin, are you? Why don't you be a m

way from him, curled his

warn you," Le

. Perhaps I've got more dollars than the customers you are so afraid of los

are touch it,"

side the chance to handle a million in investments," he said. "I know you, Georg

ot say anyt

indly keep away from me hereafter and don't worry about me

alked rapidly up the Avenue, enraged, wondering what it

ran aft

away, Sid?"

es I'll fight them!" Prale told him. "Wh

to see you in

er I got in trouble. You seem to have a wonderful and sudd

as in a tumult. What did George Lerton know that he refused to tell? W

of town," Prale mused. "There's