man's does when he sees a sign in a
railway station, "Beware of Pickpockets."

He swung on his heel and walked up the wooden steps into the main
office, as calm and collected as could be.

"Is the Mayor in?" he asked one of the officials.

"Yes! Wish to see him? What name, please?"

"Oh, just tell him it's an old friend."

The office man went into the inner room and soon returned.

"He is very busy on some special work. Would you mind calling in
again?"

"Anybody with him?"

"No!"

Phil brushed past the man and walked straight into the Mayor's office,
closing the door behind him.

Brenchfield was sitting in an armchair, behind a desk, smoking a huge
cigar and blowing clouds in the air; the very picture of municipal
overwork.

"Thought it might be you! Heard you were in town. Sit down, Phil!"

"Thanks, no!" returned Phil brusquely.

Brenchfield reached over, opened a cheque book, took up a pen, dipped
it in an inkwell, turned his cigar savagely to a corner of his mouth
and looked up at his visitor inquiringly.

"How much do you want?"

Phil smiled on him, half-pityingly. Physically, he was tremendously
weak, but he despised the man before him so much that it gave him
courage and strength.

"How much have you?" he asked.

"None of your damned business!"

"Oh!--I guess you've forgotten that our five years' partnership is
up:--a pool and a fair divide, wasn't it? Share and share alike!
Well,--there's mine!"

He threw a few bills and a little silver on the table.

Brenchfield pushed back his chair.

"So that's your game, you poor miserable--you know the name!"

"Poor and miserable, all right,--like the fool I was. But I'm not a
fool any more. I know you. I know the world just a little better than
I did five years ago."

"Shut up, man! Do you wish the whole town to hear?"

"What if they do hear? I've nothing to hide;--I'm not like you."

"And you'll be getting a little more of what you have already had, if
you don't go easier than you are doing. See here!--I'm busy, but I'm
willing to start you off. What's your price to get out of here for
good and forget you ever knew me, and to forget me for all time to
come?"

"One-half of all you have, and interest to date,--I to stay here as
long as I please."

The Mayor looked at Phil as if he were looking at a lunatic, then he
smiled and started in to fill up a cheque.

"I owe you five hundred. I've tacked on a thousand more. There! The
train lea