Part 58 (1/2)

George was embarra.s.sed. ”Well, he was,” he admitted. ”I haven't got anything against him; in fact he was very good to me. But that is what Mr. Phillips says, you know, and everybody--or about everybody--seems to believe it. At least they are awfully sorry for Phillips.”

”So I judged. But about you, now. Do _you_ believe in--er--Saint Egbert as much as you did?”

”Why--why, I don't know. I---- Of course it seems almost as if he ought to do something to help me, but if he can't he can't, I suppose.”

”I suppose not. Look here, he won't tell anybody about your sc.r.a.pe, will he?”

The junior partner in the firm of Phillips and Kent was indignant.

”Of course not,” he declared. ”He told me he should not breathe a word.

And he is really very much disturbed about it all. He told me himself that he felt almost guilty. Mr. Phillips is a gentleman.”

”Is that so? Must be nice to be that way. But tell me a little more about those bonds, George. There were two of 'em, you say, a thousand dollars each.”

”Yes.”

”And you don't know what sort of bonds they were?”

His visitor's pride was touched. ”Why, of course I know,” he declared.

”What sort of a business man would I be if I didn't know that, for heaven's sake?”

Sears did not answer the question. For a moment it seemed that he was going to, but if so, he changed his mind. However, there was an odd look in his eye when he spoke.

”Beg your pardon, George,” he said. ”I must have misunderstood you. What bonds were they?”

”They were City of Boston bonds. Seems to me they were--er--er--well, I forget just what--er--issue, you know, but that's what they were, City of Boston bonds.”

”I see ... I see.... Humph! Seems kind of odd, doesn't it?”

”What?”

”Oh, nothin'. Only Phillips, accordin' to his tell, is pretty close to poverty. Yet he hung on to those two bonds all this time.”

”Well, he had to hang on to something, didn't he? And he probably has a _little_ more; if he hasn't what has he been living on?”

”Yes, that's so--that's so. Still.... However, we won't worry about that. Now, George, sit still a minute and let me think.”

”But, Cap'n Kendrick, do you think there is a chance? I'm almost crazy.

I--I----”

”Sshh! shh! I guess likely we'll get you off the rocks somehow. Let me think a minute or two.”

So Kent possessed his soul in such patience as it could muster, while the wind howled about the old house, the wistaria vine rattled and sc.r.a.ped, the shutters groaned and whined, and the rain dashed and poured and dripped outside. At length the captain sat up straight in his chair.

”George,” he said, briskly, ”as I see it, first of all we want to find out just how this affair of yours stands. You write to those New York brokers and get from them a statement of your account--yours and Egbert's. Just what you've bought, how much margin has been put up, how much is left, about those bonds--kind, ratin', numbers and all that. Ask 'em to send you that by return mail. Will you?”

”Why--why, yes, I suppose so. But I have seen all that. Mr.

Phillips----”