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CHAPTER XV.
The ex-detective welcomed the new
comer with a smile and a cordial good
evening. The latter seemed 6omewhat
surprised, but returned the civility.
'Shall we make room for you by the
fire?' Pank suggested. 'The young lady
nnrf T will mnvp un a little.'
'Very vinrf of you,' Uie other replied,
with a deprecatory -wave of the hand.
'I have a weakness for bars myself.
Later on. if I may, ril bring a chair
up. Come on, Harry,' he added, mak
ing his way to the small opening. 'A
pint of stout — and look sharp about it.'
For some reason or other the owner
of tlie little tavern seemed depressed.
'A pint ol stout,' he repeated thought
fully.
'What's the matter?' his prospective
customer demanded. 'It's a good enough
drink, isn't it?'
'When you drink my. stout or when
you drink my beer,' tie publican re
plied, 'either of them are good drinks:
but there's one sad point about 'em ? '
'And what's that?'
The landlord leaned across the ex
temporised counter which divided ihe
two rooms and was the only thing which
suggested a public-house.
?'They want paying for' he whispered
hoarsely. 'Look here, Mr. Humblo ? '
He unhooked a slate which hune in
a recess and tapped with a pencil a
certain name with a. Jong list of entries
underneath. The name was Humble
and i he list of drinks consumed was
formidable. The owner of the name
scowled at the slate.
'All that?' he remarked.
'Not to speak of the free drinks
you've had.' the landlord reminded him.
'?Kox. if you've got the price of a pint
of stout in your pocket I won't take it
off your account, as many would, but
I'll give you the stout. Could anyone
say fairer than that?'
The landlord looked round the room
as though to challenge comment. Ern
esi Pank met his eye and plunged into
the discussion.
'What's all this trouble about a pint
of stout?' he asked. 'My friend Mr.
Humble ?will have it on me.'
The latter turned his head. There
was something furtive about his expres
sion, as though the sound of his own
name had filled him with suspicions.
'How did you know my name?' he
enquired.
Ernest Pank smiled. The fact that he
had just heard the landlord mention it
seemed to have escaped his notice.
'I like that,' he exclaimed. 'I'm a
Norwich man. aren't I? I was down
where you used to work not many days
aco. Draw a stout, landlord, and cive
us anothor drink each. How's busi
ness. Mr. Humble? This is my cousin.
M:ks Pank.'' '
?And what may your name be? ' Mr.
Humble aeked. not over-graciously.
'Curiously enough,' the ex-deiectivc
confided, 'my namo is Pank, too, samp s
as my cousin's;. PIr-iiiy of us about '
the c.ty. and nil of us more or less I
related.' :
To be continued tomorrow. -
IThe names in this story arc flclitlouaj1
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