t."

"So it does! I wish I'd never gotten into this mess, but I can't get
out now. Kedge would be sure to spoil it after I've started things
moving. What especially did you want to tell me?"

"Well, King is in there, in his usual state--dignified, of course, but
how long he'll stay that way I can't tell. It's Larch that puzzles me."

"Yes, it isn't usual for him to make such a congenial companion of
himself with his customers. But he's very different since his wife
separated from him. He doesn't hold himself so highly."

"And it's telling on his business."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that a number of his best friends are leaving him. The way it
used to be was that the Homestead was patronized by a good class of
people and organizations, some that even were opposed to the liquor
trade. They knew they could have it or not have it as they pleased.
But now Larch is catering more and more to parties that wouldn't come
here if there wasn't something strong to drink, and that's driving the
other sort away."

"Yes, I've noticed that of late."

"And that isn't all," went on Young. "Larch is going to come a
cropper, if I'm any judge."

"What do you mean?" Again the Colonel seemed puzzled.

"I mean he's going to smash financially. He's been making some poor
investments of late, as well as gambling heavily, and his money can't
last forever. He had a lot, but most of it is gone."

"I hadn't heard that."

"Well, it's true. He was well off when he married. That's the reason
he got such a pretty wife, I hear. Her folks were ambitious for her.
Well, she did shine for a while, for the Homestead was not an ordinary
hotel. It was more of a Colchester institution. But it's fast
becoming something else now.

"Larch is being pressed for cash, and that may be one reason why he's
so thick with Harry King. King's got cash, if it can only be gotten
at. I overheard Larch sounding him as to the chances of raising a big
sum."

"And what did King say?"

"He agreed to try to get it for Larch. That's all I gathered then.
But I heard them talking of something else."

"What?"

"Larch dropped a hint that he and his wife might be reconciled."

"The deuce you say!"

"That's right, Colonel. I heard him telling King about it. Larch is
going to pay his wife a visit--going to call on her at her father's
place in Pompey. And he's going to take her out a present. I believe
that's the usual thing after a quarrel.