if you did but know it, make a very
good commercial agency. When the eye is bright and the walk is quick,
your customer has the money to pay either in his pocket or in his bank;
when the step is dull and sluggish, you take a risk; when the eye looks
about with an anxious glance and the step is stealthy, and then when you
take the measure for the coat, both go out dancing, you may never get
a penny. But that is only to tell you how I know," the tailor chuckled
softly. "And now one thing more"--he was serious now--"when must you
have this ten thousand dollars?"

"Before Monday night."

"In cash?"

"In cash or something I can get cash on."

The tailor rose from his seat with a satisfied air--he had evidently
reached the point he had been striving for--laid the stump of his cigar
on the edge of the mantel, crossed the room, fumbled in the side pocket
of a coat which hung on a nail in an open closet; drew out a small
key; sauntered leisurely to his desk, all the while crooning a tune to
himself--Jack following his every movement, wondering what it all meant,
and half regretting that he had not kept on to the ferry instead of
wasting his time. Here he unlocked a drawer, took out a still smaller
key--a flat one this time--removed some books and a small Barye bronze
tiger from what appeared to be a high square table, rolled back the
cloth, bringing into view an old-fashioned safe, applied the key and
swung back a heavy steel door. Here, still crooning his song in a low
key, dropping it and picking it up again as he moved--quite as does the
grave-digger in "Hamlet"--he drew forth a long, flat bundle and handed
it to Jack.

"Take them, Mr. Breen, and put them in your inside pocket. There are ten
United States Government bonds. If these Breen people will not lend you
the amount of money you want, take them to Mr. Grayson's bank. Only do
not tell him I gave them to you. I bought them yesterday and was going
to lock them up in my safe deposit vault, only I could not leave my
shop. Oh, you needn't look so scared. They are good," and he loosened
the wrapper.

Jack sprang from his seat. For a moment he could not speak.

"But, Mr. Cohen! Do you know I haven't any security to offer you, and
that I have only my salary and--"

"Have I asked you for any?" Isaac replied with a slight shrug, a
quizzical smile crossing his face.

"No--but--"

"Ah, then, we will not talk about it. You are young--you are
hard-working; you left a v