f hundreds of
other men, lay in the pudgy hollow of the financier's hand, poor Kirke
had no objections which he could not and did not at once swallow. The
subject of the flattering offer had, however.

"I'm much obliged," said he. "But I couldn't join this club. Can't
afford it."

"You can't afford not to. It's a chance not many young fellows from
nowhere get."

"Perhaps you don't know what a reporter's earnings are, Mr. Masters."

The rest of the group had drifted away, in obedience, Banneker
suspected, to some indication given by Masters which he had not
perceived.

"You won't be a reporter long. Opportunities will open out for a young
fellow of your kind."

"What sort of opportunities?" inquired Banneker curiously.

"Wall Street, for example."

"I don't think I'd like the game. Writing is my line. I'm going to stick
to it."

"You're a fool," barked Masters.

"That is a word I don't take from anybody," stated Banneker.

"_You_ don't take? Who the--" The raucous snarl broke into laughter, as
the other leaned abruptly forward. "Banneker," he said, "have you got
_me_ covered?"

Banneker laughed, too. Despite his brutal assumption of autocracy, it
was impossible not to like this man. "No," he answered. "I didn't expect
to be held up here. So I left my gun."

"You did a job on that pier," affirmed the other. "But you're a fool
just the same--if you'll take it with a smile."

"I'll think it over," answered Banneker, as Densmore entered.

"Come and see me at the office," invited Masters as he shambled pursily
away.

Across the dining-table Densmore said to his guest: "So the Old Boy
wants to put you up here."

"Yes."

"That means a sure election."

"But even if I could afford it, I'd get very little use of the club. You
see, I have only one day off a week."

"It is a rotten business, for sure!" said Densmore sympathetically.
"Couldn't you get on night work, so you could play afternoons?"

"Play polo?" Banneker laughed. "My means would hardly support one pony."

"That'll be all right," returned the other nonchalantly. "There are
always fellows glad to lend a mount to a good player. And you're going
to be that."

The high lust of the game took and shook Banneker for a dim moment. Then
he recovered himself. "No. I couldn't do that."

"Let's leave it this way, then. Whether you join now or not, come down
once in a while as my guest, and fill in for the scratch matches. Later
you may be able to p