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 delivered. But the use of this money disturbed his partner not at all.

"It's only business, boy," he assured Dave indulgently and in a tone which conveyed wonderment at his junior partner's perplexity in the presence of the soundest business practice.

Mr. Snelgrove attested the complete comfort in his mind by liberally increasing the scale of his personal expenditures; he purchased several new suits; he bought himself a diamond; and lent to his friends with more lavish hand.

For it was plain that the good tidings that Irving again was flush, had spread from the Turkish baths and cabarets to the "barrel" and "flop" houses along south State and Clark streets whence appeared the more picturesque of the down and out comrades of Mr. Snelgrove's youth. For each, he cheerily and generously "tapped the till" as he himself called it.

Also in growing numbers and frequency, women phoned for Mr. Snelgrove or dropped into the office, in person.

It became impossible for Dave to doubt that his partner was a man whom his father would call "steeped in sin"; yet, in spite of this, Dave got along with Snelgrove better than before.

"We make a great pair, you and me," Snelgrove frequently complimented Dave and himself. "You stick with me and watch the big money roll in. I got the experience and the point of view; you got the pep and the education and the polish."

Snelgrove frankly envied Dave his education but even more he admired and valued his junior partner's