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"
Oh, some alarmist tale about somebody robbing father. I didn't quite make out
what it was all about, but it had something to do with the pay-roll."
Bince went white. "Don't believe anything that fellow says," he exclaimed
excitedly: "he's nothing but a crook. Elizabeth, can't you make your father realize
that he ought to get rid of the man, that he ought to leave things to me instead of
trusting an absolute stranger?"
"I have," replied the girl, "and he was on the point of doing it until Torrance told
him this story."
"Something will have to be done," said Bince, "at once. I'll be over to see your
father in the morning. Good-by, dear," and he hung up the receiver.
After Jimmy left the Compton home he started to walk down-town. It was too
early to go to his dismal little room on Indiana Avenue. The Lizard was still away.
He had seen nothing of him for weeks, and with his going he had come to realize
that he had rather depended upon the Lizard for company. He was full of
interesting stories of the underworld and his dry humor and strange philosophy
amused and entertained Jimmy.
And now as he walked along the almost deserted drive after his recent unpleasant
scene with Elizabeth Compton he felt more blue and lonely than he had for many
weeks. He craved human companionship, and so strong was the urge that his
thoughts naturally turned to the only person other than the Lizard who seemed
to have taken any particularly kindly interest in him. Acting on the impulse he
turned west at the first cross street until he came to a drugstore. Entering a
telephone-booth he called a certain number and a moment later had his
connection.
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