Evening journal., 1892-10-26


despaired Of being able by and by to
overcome a prejudice so puritanical and
absurd and one at the same time so
innnical TO his own interests.
On the night to which we have now |
come Gray and Crake left the Flagon |
and Cask together, as they had done !
several times before. 1t was half past |
twelve and closing time, and no sooner
had they crossed the threshold than the
door was shut and boltsd behind them
They had been playing billiards to
gether since eight o'clock, Crake of
course giving his opponent a certain
number Of points, Notwithstanding
which the American had lost every
game but two. Tonight, too, he had
insisted on backing his play for half a
sovereign q game, and as by some mis-
chance-it was thing which had never
happened before-he had fallen short of
ready money, the result had been that
by the time they left off play Crake held
his o U for three pounds fifteen Dor
rowed cash, as to which he was not at
all uneasy, feeling sure he would be re-
couped on the morrow. IL was evident
that Gray, who was ordinarily most alb
stemious, had been drinking more than
was good for him. He staggered slightly
as he came out into the cool night air
and clutched at the lapel Of his com
panions coat.
Crake drew the others arm within his
own, and as they strolled up the street
| together he said;
81 suppose | had better hail the first
hanson we come acrossy"
To which Gray, who had left his
uncles house some time before and was
now in lodgings at the west end, re
piled:
fright you are, dear boy; only /
haven't got blessed sou to pay the
cabby with" Here he gave a lurch
which carried Crake and himself half
across the pavement.
"My dear fellow, as if my purse
wasntat your servicer' exclaimed Crake
reproachfully
A second or two later Gray came to
IN unsteady halt
"Crake," he said with tipsy gravity,
I've made dashed idjit Of m shelf
t'uight."
Cant see it, my boy. What is it that
You have done"
I've given you o U for the money
owe you, while all the time I've twenty
pound note in my pocketbook.
"That's no good tonight, old man.
There's no place open where you could
get it changed. But what does it mat
ter? You can redeem your bit Of paper
when see you tomorrow"
"Yesh, but you won't see me tomor
row." answered Gray with another
lurch and hiccough. "Going to Pari,
by morning train. Telegram. Forgo
all about it till now. Mush go. b,
back in fortnight OF three weeks L
you can't change note, o U mush stant
over till / come back"
For full minute OF more Crake stooc
in silent thought The chances were
he argued, that if the American ono
got as far as Paris nothing more woul,
be secn Of him in London, in which cas-
his o u would be so much waste paper
The sum was not large one, but Crak
| was by no means minded to lose it.
} He set his teeth hard for a moment o
| two and then he said;
III you like to come with me as IA
as my lodgings think can perhap
, manage to change your note.
Half an hour later Marcus Gray wa
, on his way home in hanson. Al
, | signs Of inebriety had vanished. He wa
| his usual self--keen, alert and quietl
, | self possessed. In exchange for hi
I twenty pound note Crake had given hii
3 | three five pound notes, his o U an
4 the balance in cash.
r Eustaco Crake was seated at breakfas
Q next morning. with q sporting newspape
= supported against the hot water jug
front Of him, when the door Of his si'
' ting room was unceremoniously opene
r and two men, entire strangers to him
Y walked in and shut the door benin
@ them.
you are Mr.. Eustnce Crake?" sal
= the elder of the two interrogatvely
Crake nodded.
o Il am Inspector Fountain, Of Scotlan
y Yard, added the officer
On the instant every vestige of colo
faded ont of Crake's face, leaving it Of
gray, corpselike pallor For few ml
meutS ne was IKE n man suddenly snl
ten with the loss of speech; then, with
grimace which he evidently meant for
smile, he said
ITO what may | attribute the hone
Of this visit, Mr.. Inspector
Last night. or rather at an early hoy
this morning, you changed a tweni
pound note for a gentleman Of the nan
Of Gray, giving him as part of tl
change three notes Of five pounds eacl
Can you oblige me, Mr.. Crako. by Il
forming me when and from whom q.
notes in question came into your posse
sionT
Crake bit his lip hard for a momen,
two, as if the pain might help him
keep down the nervous trembling th
was beginning to oYermaster him TIL,
he said:
"Really, You ask me more than a
in a position to tell you. In my profe
sion, which is that Of a betting MA
(" such a number Of notes pass through n
is hands in the course Of a month that il
It out Of the question for me to keep ai
"a record of their numbers or TO remenH