"Then what on earth are you gambling on?" she asked, a little piqued.

"On me," said Bones in the same tone. "On poor old silly ass Bones,

and I'm coming through!"

He got up and came across to her and laid his big hand on her shoulder

gently.

"If I don't come through, I shan't be a beggar. I shall have enough to

build a jolly little place, where we can raise cows and horses and

vegetables of all descriptions, dear old typewriter. And if I do come

through, we'll still have that same place--only perhaps we'll have more

cows and a pig or two."

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She laughed, and he raised her smiling lips to his and kissed them.

Mr. de Vinne had dined well and had enjoyed an evening's amusement. He

had been to the Hippodrome, and his enjoyment had been made the more

piquant by the knowledge that Mr. Augustus Tibbetts had as good as

placed ten thousand pounds in his pocket. He was a surprised man, on

returning to Sloane Square, to discover, waiting in the hall, his

unwilling benefactor.

"Why, Mr. Tibbetts," he said, "this is a great surprise."

"Yes," said Bones, "I suppose it is, old Mr. de Vinne." And he coughed

solemnly, as one who was the guardian of a great secret.

"Come in," said Mr. de Vinne, more genial than ever. "This is my

little den"--indicating a den which the most fastidious of lions would

not have despised. "Sit down and have a cigar, old man. Now, what

brings you here to-night?"

"The shares," said Bones soberly. "I've been worrying about the

shares."

"Ah, yes," said Mr. de Vinne carelessly. "Why worry about them, dear

boy?"

"Well, I thought I might lose the opportunity of buying them. I think

there's something to be made out of that property. In fact," said

Bones emphatically, "I'm pretty certain I could make a lot of money if

I had control."

"I agree with you," said the earnest Mr. de Vinne.

"Now the point is," said Bones, "I've been studying that list of yours,

and it seems to me that the majority of the two hundred and fifty

thousand shares issued are either held by you or by one of the

Poles--jolly old Joe or jolly old Fred, I don't know which."

"Jolly old Fred," said Mr. de Vinne gravely.

"Now, if there's one person I don't want to meet to-night, or

to-morrow, or any other day," said Bones, "it's Pole."

"There's no need for you to meet him," smiled de Vinne.

"In fact," said Bones, with sudden ferocity, "I absolutely refuse to

buy any shares from Fred. I'll buy yours, but I will not buy a single

one from Fred."

Mr. De Vinne thought rapidly.

"There's really no reason," he said carelessly. "As a matter of fact,

I took over Fred's shares to-night, or the majority of them. I can let

you have--let me see"--he made a rapid calculation--"I can let you have

a hundred and eighty thousand shares at nineteen and nine."




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