figure upon its slippery seat and
attempted to strike an oratorical posture. He lost his balance and
lurched sidewise towards Martin. He grasped Martin's overcoat.

Martin good-naturedly put an arm around the other to steady him.
Little Billy, he guessed, was rendered dizzy by that rum and gum he had
darkly hinted at. The hunchback teetered and clung to Martin's
overcoat. Not for an instant did his tongue cease wagging.

"I am an explorer of strange lands, strange men, strange pursuits," he
told Martin. "Behold in me a rollicking blade of the sea; one who has
matched wits with all races, all colors, and sometimes, alas, come off
second best; one who has followed many occupations. A sailor--yes. A
book agent--yes. Also, sir, rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief. A
wooz, a wizard, a king of legerdemain. Student, actor--But why
continue?"

He had regained his balance upon his precarious seat by this time, and
he finished with a fine, sweeping gesture:

"In this crippled carcass doth abide a vagabond spirit whose wanderlust
has no purely geographical basis. I wander the wide world over, yes!
Also, I wander in and out of men's lives, in and out of men's affairs.
To wander--'tis my excuse for living. A fascinating obsession, sir!"

Martin was charmed. Never had he encountered such a flow of words,
such musical eloquence. What a lawyer this chap would make! But
Martin was also oppressed by his consciousness of the flight of time.
He wanted to linger with his quaint companion; but the time!

He reached for his watch and noted that Little Billy's clutch had
opened his overcoat. He struck a match and discovered it was four
minutes to ten--four minutes to reach the next corner. He could make
it in two, still it was time he was moving.

"I must leave you," he said to Little Billy. "I've an errand to that
saloon on the corner. Wait for me; I'll be back this way in a few
moments, and we'll go get a bite together."

"Would that I could," said Little Billy. "But I, too, must depart. My
ship awaits."

"Well, then, so long," said Martin. "You know where I work, Little
Billy, look me up sometime. Be glad to see you. I won't forget this
meeting."

"Good-by. No, you'll not forget this meeting," responded the
hunchback. He slipped down from his perch and shook hands. "No," he
repeated, "you'll remember me all right."

Martin strode for the corner, and the Black Cruiser. Little Billy
ambled across t