Another Man's Shoes

By VICTOR BRIDGES
AUTHOR OF A Rogue by Compulsion, Etc.
A. L. BURT COMPANY Publishers New York
Published by Arrangements with GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
Copyright, 1913, BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
To M. THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED

ANOTHER MAN'S SHOES
When you are really hungry, and have precisely one and sixpence to spend upon your dinner, the problem is one which requires a certain amount of consideration. I hesitated for some time between —— and the ——. At —— they give you four quite decent courses for a shilling, which leaves sixpence over for a drink and a tip for the waiter. On the other hand, the tablecloths are generally dirty, and the atmosphere of the place about as poisonous as that of a Chinese joss-house.
In this respect —— is altogether its superior; but as a set-off, you don't get anything like as good a shilling's worth in the way of food. And food being my chief consideration at the moment, I finally decided on Parelli's.
As I pushed open the door, the first person I caught sight of was Billy Logan. For a moment I thought I must be mistaken, but a second glance showed me the long red scar running down from the corner of the eye, which Billy had brought away with him as his sole memento of an unsuccessful insurrection in Chile.
He was busy eating, and I walked quietly up to his table without his seeing me.