Evening star., 1921-11-27
career.

the jostling press and to limp up an
exit stairway on his companion's arm.
Although pretty we'll shaken and
bruised. he had escaped any nasty
full breath of relief as they emerged
into the electric-spangled animation
of the Broadway evening.
Feel safe now" The man relaxed
the steadying hold he had maintained
Sa have Amssy ms tag along % Ne a glanced
around bit warily. They're not apt
to start anything on the street. of
course; still
They" Ramsey questioned sharply.
"Sure, you don't think the shove
that sent you of the platform was an
accident. do you? tel, you. saw the
fellows arm go out. I didn't get to
see any more Of him than that; 1 went
after you. But you can take 1t from
me: some one was trying to bump you
off,
= y \
DAMSEY frowned. The assertion
unpleasantly strengthened an i'm
preston he had gained from two or
three recent experiences-nothing so
obvious as this, yet close shaves from
accident or injury which 1t was hard
to attribute wholly to chance. he
had tried to put the suspicion away
from him. had refused to consider 1t
against him seemed SO utterly fan
tastic. But here apparently was a
positive and definite confirmation.
Involuntarily he cast a quick look
about him as the other man had
done. then jerked his head toward a
taxi standing at the curb.
Let's get out Of this" he said. 'I
had an engagement for dinner. but
don't feel in the mood to keep 1t now.
And you offered to see me on my
way. Suppose. il you've nothing else
on hand. that we dine together to-
at our leisure. My name is Ramsey.
by the way-Wallace Ramsey"
Mines Coombs," returned the
other. And dine sounds good to
me-"
He gave an appraising glance at
Ramsey as he spoke, taking in the
latters general air of prosperity and
well-being which only money in the
pockets and the certainty of more to
draw on if needed can bestow: then
he followed the other to the waiting
cab and helped him aboard.
Inside the taxi Ramsey leaned back
q little dizzily against the cushions
and closed his eyes; he still felt the
shock of his recent experience. and
the revelation connected with 1t nat
urally did not add to his peace Of
mind.
Only once did he break silence dur
ing their short drive Of five or six
blocks, and then it was to voice an
inquiry regarding his assailant.
You say you only saw the mans
arm?" he probed. But you could
tell something from that: couldn't
roughly dressed? Would you," with
a suggestion of eagerness, describe
perhaps?"
Coombs shook his head
under eoaSnt os.s Yan s.s ao5 Il
"ft was all over so quick. just like a
flash; and my mind was more on saw
ing you than taking notice Of him."
''Of course" Ramsey agreed CRATE
fully; "and small chance of q quarrel
between US on that score; It's due
pluck that I'm sitting here alive and
whole, and don't think that forget
it I can't thank you-not in words.
TT was only" he reverted.
sion of the man that would aid US
as a clue In fixing his identity"
mo" Coombs again shook his
head. TT might have been lawyer;
It might have been a longshoreman
For all can say, 1t might have been
paint. I'd like to help you. Mr.. Ram
sey. but honestly can't"
THE subject was dropped. and q
moment or two later they drew
up before the place to which Ramsey
had directed the chauffeur. a restau-
rant not too smart, but where the
food was excellent, and they could
talk without the interruption of
music.
BY this time Ramsey had recovered
sufficiently to take a less absorbing
interest in his own sensations and to
feel some STRINGS Of curiosity in re-
gard to the man who had so intrep-
idly risked his life to save that OF
stranger. After he had led the way
to Q small table in q secluded alcove
and had ordered substantial dinner
-Coombs' tastes. he found. were most
catholic: anything suited him that
appraise his new acquaintance with
out appearing to make too close
He had already been struck by a
sort Of indehnable resemblance in
tho man to himself. but now he came
outline than in feature. They were
Of about the same height and build.
and the shape of the head and face
was similar. but there the likeness
ended. Ramsey was dark. but Coombs
was swarthy. Ramsey's eyes were
steady and contemplative; Coombs'
were quick and glancing. roaming
everywhere and seeing everything.
He was q thoroughly urban spec1-
men, conveying the impression. some
how, that he knew more Of cities,
especially on their seamy side, than
Of the open country. His was the
cosmopolitanism Of the born rover,
with q ready adaptability to what
ever circumstances came his way.
His clothes. although well-made. were
shabby; his boots were broken. and
there as a yellowish pallor on his
face and a sinking in Of the, cheeks
which suggested that he had known
a recent season Of rigorous fasting.
a fact which was further attested by
the famished way in which he fell
upon his food when 1t was brought.
Ramsey noticed, though, after the
SCUM was finished and a thick. juicy
steak which followed had been served,
That coombs WINGED in attempting to
manipulate his portion, and trans
fcrred his knife from his right hand
twisted my elbow a bit back there
in the subway" he explained in re-
sronse to the others inquiring glance,
but scoffed ESon Ramsey urged him
to see a dooecr. IT'S nothing, ne
-.-~."-re6: get well by itself in no