Evening star., 1924-07-27
By Albert Payson Terhune
in the H
ditona1Ri land FoamerP Partner

how, that he could not fail in his en-
terprise.
Into his thoughts flashed the old
line:
| "A poor man, served by you. shall
make you rich!'
| And as IL to prove a new phase OF
the gambling superstition, Maxwell
| Clive's car drew up in front Of the
closed ferry gate less than sixty Sec
onds later.
| "A poor man, served by you, shall
make you rich!'" whispered Roke ex-
! ultingly.
No boat was in, nor would be for a
few minutes. Nor was there any
other car. on this wintry night, wait
ing for it. Roke, in view of this
ventured on a variation of his origi-
nal plan. He slipped out of the dark
angle, made a slight detour and ap-
preached the waiting car as though
| from the street.
"Why, hello Give" he hailed, peer
| ing uncertainty in at the half-visible
| figure in the driving seat. THAT
you? Filthy night, isn't it?'
! Rotten" agreed Give, leaning for
ward with no great enthusiasm to ac-
cept the glovcd hand proffered him
over the top of the car door. Been
| in town to the theater?"
Yes. But / left early. I've got
some Of the treasury accounts to 80
over before l get to bed. BY the way
there are a bunch Of things-some OF
them petty and some of them not
about that job that I'd like to talk
over with you sometime soon.'
Sure" assented Give. ANY time.
Drop in tomorrow evening, il you
like"
Thanks. But I've got to come to
the city tomorrow night. IL won
der il you'd mind very much il ride
out with you tonight, instead of TAX
ing the trainc If you'd rather not,
say so. But 1 could tell you about
them on the way home, and
why, certainly" said Give, still
with no vast enthusiasm. Climb on
in. Would you rather take the back
seat: The curtains are up, there, and
you won't get so wet
NO, thanks" answered Roke, climb
| ing aboard. "1ll sit in with you, if
may. Sure 1t won't be any bother to
you? Here comes the boat"
They chatted perfunctorily on in
different matters until the car was
on it's way up the hill on the Paign-
ton side Of the ferry. Then Olive
reminded his companion OF the lat
ter's desire to speak of matters con-
nected with the borough treasury.
| Roke was ready for this. For a
week he had been rehearsing his line
Of conversation. And he launch &c
forth into a long discourse on fiscal
conditions in Paignton, descanting or
divers minor legal complications and
on the list of borough notes and their
dates and renewals, and on the pos
sible uncertainty OF one or two
hitherto sure sources OF revenue.
! He talked glibly and with much
amplification. He had every feature
Of his job at his tongues end, and
had marshaled quite an array OF
problems connected with it, problems
whose discussion struck tho listener
as wholly reasonable.
The harangue lasted until the few
misty lights Of Paignton came into
view. The car neared Gives house
The driver made as though to keel
on toward Roke's mile-distant home
But Roke would not have it so.
"No, no" he begged. Il always
take a long walk, before 1 turn in
I can't sleep il don't And the walk
home is what 1 need. But if YOU don'i
minutes longer. won't keep you up
There's a rather big point in connec-
tion with the job that I want to touch
on, before We finish this talk. l can
do it in three minutes. Drive on to
your garage. I can tell you about
it while you're putting up the car
Then I'll say goodnight and chase
home"
Here's the idea," he continued
i've reason to believe-mind you
this is in strict confidence, old man.
have reason to think a man con.
nected with the borough administra-
tion is a thief. I mean it. 7 have
been watching him for a long time
And I believe he is juggling some OF
the borough funds. I'll tell you his
name, too. It's only right you should
know, so you can be on your guard
when you step into my job. He
| Roke paused. The car was rolling
into the small garage. It came to q
stop. Give mechanically. bent owe,
to switch off the lamps. Roke, from
| the street, had repeatedly seen him