. And as Nivens
goes out he kicks the door to after him.

"Now, then," he goes on, "what was it Mr. Robert thought?"

"That you might give me a line on how things stood with you," says I,
"so he'd know just what to do."

"Eh?" growls Ham. "Tell you! Why, who the devil are you?"

"Nobody much," says I. "Maybe you ain't noticed me in the office, but
I'm there. Private sec. to the president of Mutual Funding. My desk
is beyond Mr. Robert's, in the corner."

"Oh, yes," says Adams; "I remember you now. And I suppose I may as
well tell you as anyone. For the fact is, I'm about at the end of my
string. I must get some money somewhere."

"Ye-e-es?" says I, sort of cagey.

"Did Bob send any by you? Did he?" suddenly asks Adams.

"Some," says I.

"How much?" he demands.

"A hundred," says I.

"Bah!" says he. "Why, that wouldn't-- See here; you go back and tell
Bob I need a lot more than that--a couple of thousand, anyway."

I shakes my head. "I guess a hundred is about the limit," says I.

"But great Scott!" says Adams, grippin' his hands desperate. "I've
simply got to--"

Then he breaks off and stares again towards the door. Next he steps
across the room soft and jerks it open, revealin' the classy Nivens
standin' there with his head on one side.

"Ha!" snarls Ham. "Listening, eh?"

"Oh yes, sir," says Nivens. "Naturally, sir."

"Why naturally?" says Adams.

"I'm rather interested, that's all, sir," says Nivens.

"Oh, you are, are you?" sneers Ham. "Come in here."

He ain't at all bashful about acceptin' the invitation, nor our starin'
at him don't seem to get him a bit fussed. In fact, he's about the
coolest appearin' member of our little trio.

Maybe some of that is due to the dead white of his face and the black
hair smoothed back so slick. A cucumbery sort of person, Nivens. He
has sort of a narrow face, taken bow on, but sideways it shows up clean
cut and almost distinguished. Them deep-set black eyes of his give him
a kind of mysterious look, too.

"Now," says Ham Adams, squarin' off before him with his jaw set rugged,
"perhaps you will tell us why you were stretching your ear outside?"

"Wouldn't it be better, sir, if I explained privately?" suggests
Nivens, glancin' at me.

"Oh, him!" says Adams. "Never mind him."

"Very well, sir," says Nivens. "I wanted to know if you were able to
raise any cash. I haven't mentioned it before, but there's a matter of
fifteen mon