CHAPTER XII.-—Continued.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13751, 14 September 1908, Page 6

CHAPTER XII.-— Continued.

Hypnotised by the man's stare and the potency of his sniff, Easter ordered drinks. O'Donnel ? after a fervent and glowing panegyric on the nature of the accountant Uungay's talent — said Bungay feebly sniggering the while — entered into an intimate discussion of his own affairs. A marvelUms man, O'Donnel. A matchless and exuberant liar, with a solemn face and a serenity of manner, he had all the virtues and few of the failings of the Celtic race. He had, it is true, an ingrained dislike to settle with his creditors, but if he was loth to pay a debt, he never hesitated when in funds to advance a loan. He was loyal to his friends, and never spoiled another man's pitch, or went back on a pal. For the rest, his was a Bohemian soul, his code of morality a lax one, his views of life neither lofty nor ideal. But he played the game for all that, with unfailing stoicism and a stiff upper lip. "Have you seen our friend, Brown, of late?" he asked, after a long account of his exploits with a recalcitrant editor who would not use his "copy." "Why, there is our friend," he waved his hand to an adjoining table. "Do you know the men with him, Seaton and Burley ? The latter is the secretary of Amberley Scott — the big South African." "You don't say so," Easter was startled, into a display of surprise. "I must make his acquaintance. No, don't trouble, thank you," as the Irishman good humouredly advanced to introduce him. "Pray don't leave your friends.. I know Seaton and Brown, quite well." Hastily quitting the company of O'Donnel and his shabby satellites, Jack made his way towards the others. Brown rose at his approach, and would have passed him with a cool nod. Easter, however, who never took a rebuff when it was to his advantage not to do so, buttonholed him, and insisted on ordering a drink. Seaton, as if t:lad of the opportunity for private conversation, turned to his companion. I Reginald Seaton, a young man yet perfectly bald, with a slight moustache, possessed a countenance on which no one had ever seen the slightest change of expression. He had been known to receive the news of a vast inheritance with the same cold smile that he had learnt a defaulting solicitor had left him a beggar. He had been observed [at the Carlton ordering a dinner which made the chef swell with joy at the thought that lie had at last found an Englishman appreciative' of his skill, and three months later had been seen quietly eating a scone in an aerated Bread' Shop. But his expression never varied, and no look of enjoyment or the reverse on either occasion came over his face. He was, in short, "uncanny" in his coolness. One thought involuntarily of a man whose "heart was a cucumber grilled in snow," and though few people called him so to his face, Mr Reginald Seaton was generally known as "Coddy," an affectionate abbreviation of cod-fish. "Bill," he said, "you've had a bit of luck to-day. Don't deny it; my dear boy. I've known j r ou too long to mistake the signs. How much was it? Tn the old days," he went on, "before — er— don't start Bill, I'm not going to say anything to hurt you, I should reckon you'd cleared at least ten thousand. Now I suppose I should bo within the mark if I said " "I have no secrets from you, Coddy," answered the elder man. "I bought some railway stock ten days ago, and I've made £2000." "Ah, quite so," responded Seaton. "You still keep to your absurd plan, 1 believe, of not having a banking account?" "I do, I do," replied the secretary. "I may be silly, I daresay I am, but I've a horror of signing a cheque since — since " ' "All right, all right, I quite understand," said the fishy one, his blue eyes giving the sort of flicker one might reasonably expect from a mackerel catching a particularly edible sprat. "So you've probably got it about you, eh?" "Every stiver, my boy. The equivalent of two thousand golden jerry o' goblins, in twenty excellent crisp banknotes."' "And they'll all find their way, I suppose, to the old destination?" "Reggy," said the secretary, looking at him earnestly, "men call you heartless, callous, indifferent. I alone, know you to be otherwise — one- whose outward appearance belies his nature. You Avere my son's friend, you and one other alone know that every penny which I make must go to that poor boy. That for his sake " "Of course, of course," broke in the other hastily. "Good luck to him, and to your two thousand pounds. We'll celebrate tho occasion by a dinner at the clvb — the club you've not visited these three years. Why, Easter, is that you?" He rose and gazed at Jack with a curious look in his fishy eyes. "Let me introduce you to my friend, William Burley — secretary to the African magnate, Amberley Scott. We're going to the club for a bit of something to eat. Will you join us? There'll be " he paused, "plenty of pickings," he added, softly. Jack Easter looked up quickly. Glancing from Seaton he read the signs apparent in Burley's flushed face. Coddy had something good on hand. He decided to take his share. "I'll como with pleasure," he said, quietly ; and tho three left the bar. O'Donnel waving a friendly adieu, the man with the mackintosh sending forth a last defiant sniff. Together they walked down the Strand — a pigeon between two rooks.