. I am growing desperate. Why should Hubert Varrick
have so much of this world's good things and I so little? I am reduced
to very near my last dollar. I have scarcely enough in my pocket to pay
a week's lodging; and when that goes, the Lord knows what the outcome of
it will be. Up to date, I am 'too proud to beg, too honest to steal,' as
the old song goes; but when a man reaches the end of his resources
there's no telling what he may do."

He walked away swiftly among the trees and threaded his way quickly
through the net-work of streets, until he found himself at last standing
before a dingy little two-story brick house in a narrow court. Advancing
hurriedly up to the stone flagging, he knocked loudly. There was no
response.

"Evidently no one is in," he muttered. "I will call later in the
evening."

He retraced his steps back to the heart of the city, and feeling
exceedingly fatigued, he entered a _cafe_.

"I have almost got to the end of my rope," he muttered, mechanically
picking up a newspaper. "If my luck doesn't change within the next few
days, I shall do something so desperate that people will never forget
the name of Captain Frazier."

He ran his eye idly down the different columns. Suddenly a paragraph
attracted his attention. He read it over slowly half a dozen times;
then, without waiting to partake of the repast he had ordered, he
hurried to the desk, paid his bill, and rushed out into the street.

"I have no time to lose," he muttered; "this country is getting too hot
for me. I must get away at once. If I but had the wherewith I would take
the first outgoing steamer. What a capital idea it would be!" he cried,
laughing aloud, grimly. "If I could manage to abduct Hubert Varrick's
intended bride and hold her for a ransom? I made a success of it with
Gerelda Northrup when she stood at the very altar with him; and what a
man does once he can do again. The first time it was done for love's
sake; now it would be a question of money with me. I have but little
time to lose."

Again he made his way to the lonely, red-brick house on the side street,
taking good care that he was not observed. In response to his repeated
knocks, the door was opened at length by a small, dark-complexioned man.

"Captain Frazier! by all that's amazing!" he cried. "When did you blow
into port, I should like to know?"

"I came in this morning," was the reply.

"I am never quite sure what you want of me," replied the other, ey