A discharged chauffeur wrote that letter, of
course, he began.
It is a horriblehandicap to possess a criminal
mind. The criminal mind is a peculiar thing, he said, with a sigh. Go warily,
Reeder-if any kick comes back to this office, itgoes on to you-intensified! What do
you mean-trying to sell emeralds? But I guess you said to yourself, This guy is a
man of theworld-hes gotta mix. Naturally, I couldnt makeprofit out of a friend. He
pulled his table telephone towards him and gave the agents number.
Im not in a position to offer a single share-thats
true. On his head was a high, flat-crowned hat, his body wastightly encased in a
black frock coat. Lew picked up the lamp and, kneeling down, flashed a lightinto the
dark cavity. I threw it in the river, said Lew sulkily. It didnt want anydoing; I
could have sold it if Id been living in the Amaganni Forest.
He rose abruptly and paced the room with quick,
nervous strides, hisbrow furrowed in thought.
Thinker, eh-hes given you somepn tothink about. But
thecountry is not quite so beautiful as Canada in the fall.
If I havent shown that in Homo Sum thenIve failed
in _expression_.
Bride scratched his chin, and was half convinced.
As he closed the door he glancedquickly first to the girl and then to the poplar
avenue. The stone cameup above the edge of the floor and Bride slipped the chisel
underneath. This house of mine has got the right kind oflonesomeness.
Reeder in this light, and, indeed, had the vaguest
idea asto what the word meant. A crook I dontmind, being one; a murderer I dont
mind, but a talking jackass makes mesick.
Reederregretfully disclaimed connection with those
legal lights.