The Neer-Do-Well | Page 8

him.
"What's the--" Padden started at sight of the motionless figure on the
floor, and, kneeling beside it, made a quick examination, while
Anthony explained the circumstances leading up to the assault.
"Thief, eh? I see."
"Is he badly hurt?" queried Locke, bending a pale face upon them.
"Huh! I guess he's due for the hospital," the owner of the Austrian
Village announced. "He had his nerve, trying to turn a trick in my place.
I thought I knew all the dips, but he's a stranger." With nimble fingers
he ran through the fellow's pockets, then continued:
"I'm glad you got him, but you'd better get together and rehearse before
the police--" He stopped abruptly once more, then looked up curiously.

"What is it?" questioned the man from Missouri.
Padden pointed silently to the lapel of the fellow's vest, which he had
turned back. A nickeled badge was pinned upon it. "He's no thief; he's a
detective--a plain-clothes man!"
"Wha'd I tell you!" Higgins exulted. "I can smell 'em!"
The crowd looked nonplussed, with the exception of Jefferson Locke,
who became calmer than at any time since the waiter had first
whispered into his ear.
"We didn't know who he was," he began, hurriedly, "You must square
it for us, Padden. I don't care what it costs." He extended a bulky roll of
bank-notes toward the gray-haired man. "These boys can't stand this
sort of thing, and neither can I. I've got to sail at ten o'clock this
morning."
"Looks to me like you've croaked him," said the proprietor, ignoring
the proffered money.
"It's worth a thousand dollars to me not to miss my boat."
"Wait a minute." Padden emptied the unconscious man's pockets,
among other things of some telegrams and a legally folded paper. The
latter he opened and scanned swiftly, then turned his little eyes upon
Locke without a word, whereupon that gentleman, with equal silence,
took from his inside pocket a wallet, and selected a bill, the
denomination of which he displayed to the; proprietor before folding it
inside the bundle he held.
"Here! It may cost you something."
Padden nodded and accepted the money, saying:
"Oh, I guess I can fix it. I know the right doctor." He regained his feet,
then warned the onlookers: "But you'll have to keep your traps closed,
understand?"
"Will he die?" asked Ringold, fearfully, his back still against the door.
"Not a chance. But if he does he'll never know who hit him. You see,
we picked him up in the alley and brought him in." Padden winked
meaningly. "It happens right along in this part of town. Do you get me?
I'll keep these." He indicated the badge and papers in his hand. "Now
go out as if nothing had come off. Drop in again the next time you're in
town. I'll take care of the supper checks."
As the partly sobered visitors struggled into their overcoats Padden
drew Locke aside, and, nodding toward Higgins, who was still talkative,

said:
"If you want to catch that ten o'clock boat you'd better stick close to
your friend; I know him."
"Thanks!" Locke glanced at the prostrate figure, then inquired in a low
tone: "On the level, will he make it?"
"Hard to tell. Just the same, if I was you I'd change my sailing-- he
might come to."
"You chaps have done me a big favor to-night," said Locke, a little later,
when he and his companions were safely out of the Austrian Village,
"and I won't forget it, either. Now let's finish the evening the way we
began it."
Anderson, Rankin, and Burroughs, to conceal their nervousness,
pleaded bodily fatigue, while Anthony also declared that he had
enjoyed himself sufficiently for one night and intended to go home and
to bed. "That episode rather got on my nerves," he acknowledged.
"Mine, too," assented Locke. "That's why you mustn't leave me. I just
won't let you. Remember, you agreed to see me off."
"'S'right, fellows," Higgins joined in. "We agreed to put him aboard and
we must do it. Don't break up the party, Kirk."
"I don't want to go home," Ringold muttered.
"It's a breach of hospitality to go home," Higgins insisted. "Besides,
after my bloody 'ncounter with that limb of the law I need a stimulant.
You must look after me."
"I shall tuck you in your little bed," Kirk told him. But Higgins would
hear to nothing of the sort, protesting that he was in honor bound to
conduct his old friend Locke to the steamer, and Anthony feared that
without his protection some harm might befall his irresponsible and
impulsive companion. Candor requires it to be said that he did hesitate,
arguing long with the limp-legged Higgins; but Locke was insistent, the
others grew impatient of the delay,