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through the park。 Don't mind my talking to you for a while？ I've got to be
with somebody。 I'm afraid I'm afraid。 I've told two or three of those
bummers over about it。 They think I'm crazy。 Say let tell you all I've
had to eat to…day was a couple pretzels and an apple。 To…morrow I'll stand
in to inherit three millions； and that restaurant you ee over there with the
autos around it will be too for me to eat in。 Don't believe it； do you？
〃Without the slightest trouble；〃 said Vallance； with a laugh。 〃I lunched
there yesterday。 To… night I couldn't buy a five…cent cup of coffee。〃
〃You don't look like one of us。 Well； I guess those things happen。 I
used to be a high…flyer myself years ago。 What knocked you out of the
game？〃
〃I oh； I lost my job；〃 said Vallance。
〃It's undiluted Hades； this city；〃 went on the other。 〃One day you're
eating from china； the next you are eating in China a chop…suey joint。
I've had more than my share of hard luck。 For five years I've been little
better than a panhandler。 I was raised up to live expensively and do
nothing。 Say I don't mind telling you I've got to talk to somebody； you
see； because I'm afraid I'm afraid。 My name's Ide。 You wouldn't think
that old Paulding； one of the millionaires on Riverside Drive； was my
uncle； would you？ Well； he is。 I lived in his house once； and had all the
money I wanted。 Say； haven't you got the price of a couple of drinks about
you er what's your name〃
〃Dawson；〃 said Vallance。 〃No； I'm sorry to say that I'm all in；
financially。〃
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〃I've been living for a week in a coal cellar on Division Street；〃 went
on Ide； 〃with a crook they called 'Blinky' Morris。 I didn't have anywhere
else to go。 While I was out to…day a chap with some pa… pers in his pocket
was there； asking for me。 I didn't know but what he was a fly cop； so I
didn't go around again till after dark。 There was a letter there be had left
for me。 Say Dawson； it was from a big downtown lawyer； Mead。 I've
seen his sign on Ann Street。 Paulding wants me to play the prodigal
nephew wants me to come back and be his heir again and blow in his
money。 I'm to call at the lawyer's office at ten to…morrow and step into my
old shoes again heir to three million； Dawson； and 10；000 a year
pocket money。 And I'm afraid I'm afraid〃
The vagrant leaped to his feet and raised both trembling arms above
his bead。 He caught his breath and moaned hysterically。
Vallance seized his arm and forced him back to the bench。
〃Be quiet！〃 he commanded； with something like disgust in his tones。
〃One would think you had lost a fortune； instead of being about to acquire
one。 Of what are you afraid？〃
Ide cowered and shivered on the bench。 He clung to Vallance's sleeve；
and even in the dim glow of the Broadway lights the latest disinherited
one could see drops on the other's brow wrung out by some strange terror。
〃Why； I'm afraid something will happen to me be… fore morning。 I
don't know what something to keep me from coming into that money。
I'm afraid a tree will fall on me I'm afraid a cab will run over me； or a
stone drop on me from a housetop； or some… thing。 I never was afraid
before。 I've sat in this park a hundred nights as calm as a graven image
without knowing where my breakfast was to come from。 But now it's
different。 I love money； Daw… son … I'm happy as a god when it's trickling
through my fingers； and people are bowing to me； with the music and the
flowers and fine clothes all around。 As long as I knew I was out of the
game I didn't mind。 I was even happy sitting here ragged and hungry；
listening to the fountain jump and watching the carriages go up the avenue。
But it's in reach of my hand again now almost and I can't stand it to
wait twelve hours； Dawson I can't stand it。 There are fifty things that
could happen to me I could go blind I might be attacked with heart
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disease the world might come to an end before I could 〃
Ide sprang to his feet again； with a shriek。 Peo… ple stirred on the
benches and began to look。 Val… lance took his arm。
〃Come and walk；〃 he said； soothingly。 〃And try to calm yourself。
There is no need to become ex… cited or alarmed。 Nothing is going to
happen to you。 One night is like another。〃
〃That's right；〃 said Ide。 〃Stay with me； Daw… son that's a good
fellow。 Walk around with me awhile。 I never went to pieces like this
before； and I've had a good many hard knocks。 Do you think you could
hustle something in the way of a little lunch； old man？ I'm afraid my
nerve's too far gone to try any panhandling〃
Vallance led his companion up almost deserted Fifth Avenue； and then
westward along the Thirties toward Broadway。 〃Wait here a few minutes；〃
he said； leaving Ide in a quiet and shadowed spot。 He entered a familiar
hotel； and strolled toward the bar quite in his old assured way。
〃There's a poor devil outside； Jimmy；〃 he said to the bartender； 〃who
says he's hungry and looks it。 You know what they do when you give them
money。 Fix up a sandwich or two for him； and I'll see that he doesn't throw
it away。〃
〃Certainly； Mr。 Vallance；〃 said the bartender。 〃They ain't all fakes。
Don't like to see anybody go hungry。〃
Ide folded a liberal supply of the free lunch into a napkin。 Vallance
went with it and joined his com… panion。 Ide pounced upon the food
ravenously。 〃I haven't had any free lunch as good as this in a year；〃 be said。
〃Aren't you going to eat any； Dawson？
〃I'm not hungry … thanks；〃 said Vallance。
〃We'll go back to the Square；〃 said Ide。 〃The cops won't bother us
there。 I'll roll up the rest of this ham and stuff for our breakfast。 I won't eat
any more； I'm afraid I'll get sick。 Suppose I'd die of cramps or something
to…night； and never get to touch that money again！ It's eleven hours yet till
time to see that lawyer。 You won't leave me； will you； Dawson？ I'm afraid
something might happen。 You haven't any place to go； have you？〃
〃No；〃 said Va