aroused the rabbi's cupidity. "Come on heah," he said
briefly.

The three made their way up town and presently entered the door of a
ramshackle structure standing midway of a block lined by similar
buildings. They walked into a darkened room, and the Wildcat saw a
fresco of gleaming white eyeballs ranged about him.

"Whah at is us?" he asked the rabbi.

"Dis heah's de Oaklan' Pleasure Club, sort of a social off-shot f'm de
chu'ch."

"What chu'ch?"

"Chu'ch is called Banded Brothehs ob de Loose Barrel Hoop. I rabbis fo'
dem when I's in town. When I'se away dey's got another boy what does de
rabbi work."

The chef turned to the assemblage. "Boys, meet up wid de Mud Turtle. I
'spec' some o' you all knows him. Dis heah other boy travels under de
name ob de Wilecat."

A voice from a corner of the room bellered into the midst of the
assemblage. "What'll it be, boys? Dis is on de Wilecat."

The Wildcat put on the financial brakes. "How come?"

"Dis heah's de initiation drink. Eve'ybody what joins de Banded
Brothehs buys a drink fo' de congregation."

The Wildcat's eyes had become more accustomed to the darkness. "'Pears
like I gits lifted fo' goin' on fo'ty drinks."

Presently half a dozen bottles were mingling around with the
congregation, and the Wildcat's words to the Mud Turtle beside him were
drowned in a chorus of gurgling throats. The gulping ceased. Out of an
obscure corner of the room came the Auditor's tones. "Eighty-two
dollars. Wilecat, pay me befo' de long green gits wilted."

The Wildcat was no piker, but the bill hit him pretty hard. "I's seen
saloons you could buy complete fo' half de money," he remonstrated. He
walked over to where a narrow square of light broke through the wall.
He fished out a big roll of bills from which he proceeded to count
ninety dollars. He replaced the money in his pocket. As he did so a
yellow electric light flashed in another part of the room and burned
steadily above a small table upon which was stretched a green cloth. A
man beside the table called to the newcomer. "Wilecat, de pleasure part
ob de entertainment now starts. Now you gits action."

"How come action? Action what wid?"

"Action wid de freckled bones what knows 'rithmetic."

The Wildcat accepted the invitation. Here was a chance to retrieve the
price of the drinks. He walked over to the corner. "Whah at's de
bones?"

In allowing his opponent to supply the weapons he had committed a
serious technica