Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-06
CHAPTER XK.-Continued.

mo consideration Of etiquette would have
interviewed at all. I should have felt it
my duty to have revealed at once the
fact Of your deposit. At the same time.
the inquiry comes from an even more i'm
portant source-a source which cannot be
ignored"
I.averick thought for q moment.
After all, the matter is very simple
one," he declared. by 4 O'Clock this
afternoon my account shall be within its
limits. You will then automatically re-
store to me the packet which you hold on
my behalf and the possession Of which
seems to embarrass YOU"
IF you do not mind" the banker an
swered, "I should be glad II you would
take 1t with you. 1t means. l think. a
matter of six or seven thousand pounds
added to your overdraft. but as q tenn
porary thing we will pass that"
"As you WILL" Laverick assented, care
lessIy. THE charge Of those documents
is trust with me as well as with your
self. l have no doubt that can arrange
for their being held in a secure place
elsewhere
and Laverick left the bank with the
brown leather pocketbook in his breast
coat pocket. Arrived at his Office he lock-
ed 1t up at once in his private safe and
proceeded with the usual business OF the
day. Even with an added staff OF clerks
the Office was almost in an uproar. Law
erick threw himself into the struggle with
a whole-hearted desire to escape from
these unpleasant memories. He succeed
ed perfectly. 1t was two hours before
he was able to sit down even for a mo-
ment. His head clerk. almost as ex-
hausted. followed him into his room.
Il forgot to tell you. SIR he an
nounced. that there's man outside
Mr.. Shepherd was his name. I believe
said he had a small investment to make
which you promised to look after per-
sonally. He would insist on seeing you
said he was a waiter at restaurant
which you visited sometimes"
That's all right" Laverick declared.
You can show him in. Wen probably
give him American rails
Cant we attend to 1t in the Office for
you. sir?" the clerk asked. Il suppose
it's only a matter of a few hundreds"
LESS than that, probably. but l prom
Used the fellow I'd look after IT myself.
Send him in. Scropes."
There was a brief delay and then Mr.
Shepherd was announced. Laverick. who
was sitting with his coat off. smoking a
well earned cigarette, looked up and nod
Sorry to keep you waiting, he re-
marked. We're having a bit Of a rush. :"
The man laid down his hat and came
up to Laverick's side.
l.
number of people we've had in the Black
Post today. and the way they've all
been shouting and talking. They don't
seem to eat much these days. but there
some of them can shift the drink"
i've got some sound stocks looked out
for YOU" Laverick remarked. 1.-TWO hum
dred and fifty pounds worth. II you'll
just approve that list as matter OF
FORM he added. pushing a piece of pa
per across. you can come in tomorrow
h. 10
them to debit the purchase money to my
private account, SO that il any one asks
You anything. you can say that you paid
me for Them
man said. ITO tell you the TRUTH" he
went on, i've had a bit of a scare to-
day"
Laverick looked up quickly.
What do you mean?' he demanded.
MAY ! sit down. sir? I'm a bit worn
out. I've been on the go since half-past
Laverick nodded and pointed to a chair.
Shepherd brought 1t up to the side of the
table and leaned forward
There's been two men in today" he
said, asking questions. They wanted to
know how many customers I had there
on Monday night and could l describe
them. Yves there any one 1 recognized,
and SO on"
what did YOU say?"
Il declared 1 couldn't remember any
one To the best Of my recollection. /
told them, there was no one served at all
after 10 o'clock. I wouldn't say for GER
tain-it looked as though I might have
had a reason"
"And were they satisfied?'
81 don't think they were," Shepherd
admitted. mot altogether. that is to
say"
did they mention any names?" asked
Laverick ''Morrfson's for instance? Did
whether
regular customer"
"They didn't mention no names at all.
SIR" the man answered, but they did
begin to ask questions about my regular
clients. Fortunate like. the place was SO
crowded that 1 had every excuse for not
paying any too much attention to them.
1t was all could do to keep on getting
orders attended to-
What sort Of men were they?" Law
erick asked do you think that they
came from the police?"
Il shouldn't have said So" Shepherd
replied, "but one can't tell, and these
gentlemen from Scotland Yard do make
themselves up SO sometimes on purpose
to deceive. 1 should have said that these
two were foreigners. the same kidney as
the poor chap as was murdered. | heard
a word or two pass. and ! sort OF gath
cred that they'd a shrewd idea as to that
man who was murdered and the little
dark fellow
Laverick nodded.
Jim Shepherd he declared, "you ap-
pear to me to be q very sagacious per-
son.
I'm sure I'm much obliged. sir; can
tell you. though" he added. II don't half
like these chaps coming round making in
quiries My nerves amt quite what they
were and 1t gives me the Jumps
Layerick was thoughtful for a few mo-
ments.
AFTER ALL there was no one else in the
bar that night" he remarked; mo one
who could contradict your
mot q SOUL" Jim Shepherd agreed.
'Then, don't you bother" Laverick con-
tinued You see. you've been wise. You
haven't given yourself away altogether.
You've simply said that you don't recol-
lect any one coming in. Why should you
recollect? At the end OF a days work
you are not likely to notice every stray
customer. Stick to it, and. IL you take
my advice, don't go throwing any money
about and don't give your notice in for
another week or SO. Pave the way for 1t
a bit. Ask the governor for rise-say
you're not making a living out of it,
I'm on" Jim Shepherd remarked, nod
ding his head. I'm on to 1t, sir. l don't
want to get into no trouble. I'm sure"
You can't" Laverick answered, dryly.
unless you chuck yourself in. You're
not obliged to remember anything. No
one can ever prove that you remembered
anything. Keep your eyes open and let
me hear IL these fellows turn up again"
I'm pretty certain they will. SIR the
man declared. '"They sat about waiting
for me to be disengaged. but when my
time Off came hoped out the back
way. They'll be there again tonight. sure
enough