a step nearer and, in a voice which
was fast getting beyond his control, said: "You know now, don't you? You
can see it plain as day how long it takes to make a bum of a man when
he's up agin things like that. You--" He paused, listened intently, and
sprang back, hugging the wall. "What's that? Somebody comin'! My God!
It's a cop! Don't tell him--say you won't tell him--say it! SAY IT!"

Felix gripped his wrist. "Pull yourself together and keep still."

The officer, who was idly swinging a club as if for companionship along
his lonely beat, stopped short. "Any trouble, sir?" he said as soon as
he had Felix's outline and bearing clear.

"No, thank you, officer. Only a friend of mine who needs a little
looking after. I'll take care of him."

"All right, sir," and he passed on down the narrow street.

The man gave a long breath and staggered against the wall. Felix caught
him by his trembling shoulders. "Now, brace up. The first thing you need
is something to eat. There is a restaurant at the corner. Come with me."

"They won't let me in."

"I'll take care of that."

Felix entered first. "What is there hot this time of night, barkeeper?"

"Frankfurters and beans, boss."

"Any coffee?"

"Sure."

"Send a double portion of each to this table," and he pulled out a
chair. "Here's a man who has missed his dinner. Is that enough?" and he
laid down a dollar bill--one Kling had given him.

"Forty cents change, boss."

"Keep it, and see he gets all he wants. And now here," he said to the
tramp, "is another dollar to keep you going," and with a shift of his
stick to his left arm Felix turned on his heel, swung back the door, and
was lost in the throng.

Kitty was up and waiting for him when he lifted the hinged wooden flap
which provided an entrance for the privileged and, guided by the glow of
the kerosene lamp, turned the knob of her kitchen door. She was close to
the light, reading, the coffee-pot singing away on the stove, the aroma
of its contents filling the room.

"I hope I have not kept you up, Mrs. Cleary. You had my message by Mike,
did you not?" he asked in an apologetic tone.

"Yes, I got the message, and I got the trunks; they're up-stairs, and if
you had given Mike the keys I'd have 'em unpacked by this time and all
ready for you. As to my bein' up--I'm always up, and I got to be. John
and Mike is over to Weehawken, and Bobby's been to the circus and just
gone to bed, and I've been readin' the mo