Page:Over the Sliprails - 1900.djvu/31



“If he had twenty——”

“Oh, God! I’m sick of you, Smith. What the——!”

“Hold on. Let me finish. I was only going to say that I’m willing to put up a fiver, and you put up another fiver, and if he doubles that for us then we can talk about standing in with him with a hundred— provided he can show his hundred.”

After some snarling Steelman said: “Well, I’ll try him! Now are you satisfied?”. ..

“He’s moved off now,” he added in a whisper; “but stay here and talk a bit longer.”

Passing through the hall they saw Gentleman Sharper standing carelessly by the door of the private bar. He jerked his head in the direction of drinks. Steelman accepted the invitation—Smith passed on. Steelman took the opportunity to whisper to the Sharper— “I’ve been talking that over with my mate, and——”

“Come for a stroll,” suggested the professional.

“I don’t mind,” said Steelman.

“Have a cigar?” and they passed out.

When they returned Steelman went straight to the room he occupied with Smith.

“How much stuff have we got, Smith?”

“Nine pounds seventeen and threepence.”

Steelman gave an exclamation of disapproval with that state of financial affairs. He thought a second. “I know the barman here, and I think he knows me. I’ll chew his lug for a bob or may be a quid.”

Twenty minutes later he went to Gentleman Sharper’s room with ten pounds —in very dirty Bank