"
"Will you lend me enough money to cable again?" asked Anthony,
with an effort.
"More money? NO!" fairly screamed the other. "You get out of my
house, Mr. 'Kirk Anthony,' and don't you show yourself around here
again. I'll keep the rest of your wardrobe."
His erstwhile guest underwent an abrupt reversal of emotion. To
the indignant amazement of Mr. Weeks, he burst into a genuine
laugh, saying:
"All right, landlord, keep my baggage. I believe that's the
custom, but--Oh, gee! This IS funny." He was still laughing when
he reached the public square, for at last he had begun to see the
full humor of Adelbert Higgins' joke.
VII
THE REWARD OF MERIT
Facing for the first time in his life an instant and absolute need
of money, Kirk found himself singularly lacking in resource; and a
period of sober contemplation brought him no helpful thought.
Perhaps, after all, he decided, his best course would be to seek
relief from the Cortlandts. Accordingly, he strolled into the
offices of the steamship company near by and asked leave to
telephone. But on calling up the Hotel Tivoli, he was told that
his friends were out; nor could he learn the probable hour of
their return. As he hung up the receiver he noticed that the
office was closing, and, seeing the agent about to quit the place,
addressed him:
"I'd like to ask a favor.
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