t, so I let it run.'

"'Perhaps he's overdrawn,' I said.

"'It's possible, sir,' said the landlord.

"Well, I went down to supper, full of the poor chap's story, and found
him at the table walking into a hefty veal-and-ham pie, and with a
bottle of wine at his elbow.

"'Come on,' he says, 'or you'll be too late.'

"We went at it and made a good meal, and he accepted one of my cigars.
It suddenly occurred to me that I knew nothing definite about the man.
He hadn't even told me his profession. He wasn't _Church_, that was
clear. He wasn't Navy. I didn't think he was Bar either. Army? Yes, but
you know a chap in the army is bound to let something out about himself
in the course of conversation. And, moreover, you don't find army men
hiding in hunting hotels in July. Carville? Carville? And then I decided
he was proud and kept quiet for fear I would offer him a loan. Poor
chap!

"There was no one else staying at the Saxon Cross Hotel that night, and
we had the big smoking-room to ourselves. And after a time I put it to
him pointblank: 'What on earth are you hanging about down here for,
man?'

"'Simply because,' said he, 'I haven't the cash to pay my bill, and the
inland revenue has run dry.'

"'Where do you bank?' I asked, and he slapped his pocket.

"'Pa's bank,' he replied, 'but he is in a bit of a temper with me, I
think. If I could only get up to town.'

"'Why didn't you explain to the landlord?' I asked him. He looked at me
with a scowl. 'I don't explain anything to people of that class,' he
said.

"'What'll you take?' I asked him, and he leaned over and put his face
close to mine. 'Oh, damn the money,' he said. 'The fellow will take an
IOU if you endorse it.' 'Nay,' I said. 'Let me pay it, and when your
ship comes home, all right.' He took another whisky. 'Will you?' he
said. 'Will you help a stranger like that?'

"'An old public school man is not a stranger,' I said. 'I think your
pals are rather a rotten lot to leave you in the lurch like this.' 'Fair
weather friends,' he answered. 'Young men with too much money. Very
decent chaps so long as you have plenty of cash. Very awkward. I have
business in town as a matter of fact. Will you really take my IOU for
this? It's only a few quid, you know.'

"It was fourteen pounds, and took up the balance of my holiday stock.
Rather foolish I know you will say, but after all we ought to stand by
each other. And it was worth it. Honestly, it was worth it! That ch