I THOROUGHLY appreciate everything I you have mentioned, Mr. Hergan,”
said the clerk Parks, “but it is quite impossible. Mr. Mason is entirely
inaccessible. I should not dare interrupt him.”
“Look here, my friend,” responded the gambler. “I have heard this same
talk every day for the last week, and it don't go any longer. I have
got to see this lawyer, and I have got to see him now. Do you understand
me?”
“Oh, yes,” replied the clerk, with a faint smile, “I understand you
perfectly, but it is entirely useless to urge the matter any farther.
The business with which Mr. Mason is at present engaged is of great
magnitude. He would not permit an interview at all. I am very sorry,
but, of course, I can do nothing for you.”
The gambler did not respond. For a few moments he was silent. Then he
put his hands into the inside pocket of his coat and drew forth a rather
battered leather pocket-book. He held the pocket-book under the table,
opened it slowly, and selecting a fifty-dollar bill from among a number
of others, laid it gently on the table.
“There,” he said, “is my ante. I want in the game.”
The eyes of the clerk began to contract slowly at the corners.
“My dear man,” he said, “I should like to do this for you, but I don't
see how I can. I don't believe Mr. Mason would even listen to me just
now. I don't----”
“Wait,” responded the gambler; “I sweeten it.”
Thereupon he selected another bill from the pocket-book and spread it
out carefully beside the other upon the table.
The little bald clerk began to drum on the chair with his fingers. His
eyes wandered from the money to the door of Mason's private office, and
back again. Presently he turned to the gambler.
The Hon. Ambercrombie Herman held up two fingers. “Don't call,” he said,
“I tilt it to one hundred and fifty.” And he added another bill to the
two, and pushed the money across the table to the clerk. Then he closed
the pocket-book deliberately and replaced it in his coat.
Parks arose, picked up the money without a word, and passed into
Randolph Mason's private office, closing the door carefully behind him.
In a very few moments the clerk returned. He came up dose to the gambler
and put his hand confidentially on his shoulder.
“My friend,” he said, in a low tone, “you are not a fool. I have told
some lies to get you this interview. Look sharp, and say as little as
possible.”
“What lies?” asked the gambler, arising.
“Such as were useful,” responded the clerk. “Quite too tedious to
enumerate. Please walk into Mr. Mason's office, sir, and remember that
you are my brother-in-law. Answer the questions which are put to you,
and don't volunteer talk. It is n't wise.”
The gambler opened the door to Randolph Mason's private office and
entered.