to regard the dark coals; to divers and sundry
sounds from the table where the other ate, he seemed oblivious. Once
when the proprietor stepped in, he asked, without looking around, for a
certain number of grains of quinine with a glass of water; they probably
kept it at the bar. Yes, the man always had it on hand and brought it
in.

A touch of fever, might he ask, as the visitor took it; nothing to speak
of, was the indifferent answer.

Well, the gentleman should have a care; the gentleman did not reply
except to ask for the reckoning; the proprietor figured a moment, then
departed with the sovereign that had been tossed to the table.

By this time Dandy Joe had pushed back his chair; his dull eyes gleamed
with satisfaction; also, perhaps, with a little calculation.

"Thanking you kindly, sir, it's more than I had a right to expect. If
ever I can do anything to show--"

"You can't!"

"I don't suppose so," humbly. Joe looked down; he was thinking; a
certain matter in which self-interest played no small part had come to
mind. John Steele was known to be generous in his services and small in
his charges. Joe regarded him covertly. "Asking your pardon for
referring to it--but you've helped so many a poor chap--there's an old
pal of mine what is down on his luck, and, happenin' across him the
other day, he was asking of me for a good lawyer, who could give him
straight talk. One moment, sir! He can pay, or soon would be able to,
if--"

"I am not at present," Steele experienced a sense of grim humor,
"looking for new clients."

"Well, I thought I'd be mentioning the matter, sir, although I hadn't
much hopes of him being able to interest the likes of you. You see he's
been out of old England for a long time, and was goin' away again, when
w'at should he suddenly hear but that his old woman that was, meaning
his mother, died and left a tidy bit. A few hundred pounds or so; enough
to start a nice, little pub. for him and me to run; only it's in the
hands of a trustee, who is waiting for him to appear and claim it."

"You say he has been out of England?" John Steele stopped. "How long?"

"A good many years. There was one or two little matters agin him when he
left 'ome; but he has heard that certain offenses may be 'outlawed.' Not
that he has much 'ope his'n had, only he wanted to see a lawyer; and
find out, in any case, how he could get his money without--"

"The law getting hold of him? What is his name?"

"Tom