The Raymer enterprise., 1911-08-31
CHAPTER VIII. (Continued.)

"Who?" Her glance was penetrat
ing. "Oh. he's wytin' for you" She
nodded, lifting a shrill voice. "Garge.
o Cargo! 'Ere's that Yankee" With
bare red elbow she indicated the
further end Of tho room. You'll find
i'm down there" she said. her look
not unkindly.
Amber thanked her quietly, and.
e1tricating himself from tho press
around the bar, made his way in the
direction indicated. A couple OF bill
lard tables with a small mob OF on.
lockers hindered him. but by main
strength and diplomacy he wormed
bis way past and reached the rear OF
the room. There were fewer loafers
hero and he had little hesitation about
selecting from an attendant circle OF
pycophants the genius OF the dive
Honest George himself, fat and
burly rutilan who filled to overflow
Ing the inadequate accommodation Of
an armchair. Sitting thus enthroned
In his shirt-sleeves, his greasy and
unshaven red face irradating sort
Of low good-humor that was belied by
the cold cunning OF his little eyes he
fulfilled admirably the requirements
OF the role he played self.cast
Ere. you." he hailed Amber
brusQuely. You're ell OF job
'unter. amt YOU Mister Abercrom-
bios been wyhn' for you this hour
gone. Know the wy upstairs?"
His tone was boisterous enough to
FIX upon Amber the attention OF the
knot OF loafers round the armchair
Amber felt himself under the particu-
lar regard OF a dozen pair OF eyes. felt
that his measure was taken and his
identification complete. Displeased.
he answered curtly: mo"
This Wy. then" Honest George
hoisted himself ponderously out OF his
armchair and numbered heavily across
the room. shouldering the crowd
aside with highhanded contempt
for the pack OF them. Jerking open Il
small door in the side wall, he beck
oned Amber on with backward nod
OF his heavy head. BE a bit lively.
carn't you?" he growled and Amber.
In despite OF qualms OF dlstrust, fol-
lowed the fellow into small and moi
some hallway lighted by single gas
let. On the one hand a fight OF rick.
ETY. steps ran up into repellent OBJ
security; on the other a low door stood
open TO the night.
The crimp lowered his voice. Your
friends this Wy" He waved his fat
red hand toward the door. Them
fools back therell think you're tryin'
for berth with AberCrombIe, the
shipmaster. 'opes you'll not tyke
oifense at the wy ad to rag you
back there. sir"
No" said Amber, and Honest
George led the way out into small
tagged we'll between towering black
walls and left him at the threshold OF
a second doorway. Two flights up
the door at the top" he said; knock
twice and then twice" And without
waiting for an answer he lurchet
heavily back to his own establish
ment
Amber watched his broad back Al
the dimly lighted doorway opposit,
and disappear. OF two minds whether
or not to turn tail and run. SUSPECT
ous enough In the beginning. the af
fair had now an exceeding evil smell
IA repulsive fguratively as was the
actual etiluvium OF the premises.
With n shrug. at length. he took hii
courage in his hands-and his life
too, for all he knew to the contrary
and moved on into the blackness
cropping his way cautiously down q
short corridor, his fingers on either
side brushing walls OF rotten plaster
He had absolutely nothing to guide
him beyond the crimp's terse instruc
tons. Underfoot the flooring seemed
to sag ominously: II creaked hldeous
ly. Abruptly he stumbled against ar
obstruction. halted. and lighted q
match.
The insignificant fame showed him
Z flight OF stairs. leading up to dark
ness. With a drumming heart he be
gan to ascend. counting 2i steps ere
his feet failed to find another Then
cropping again, one hand encountered
a baluster.rail; with this for guide he
turned and followed Il until II began
TO slant upwards. This time he count
cd 16 steps before his eyes. rising