The talkative young man forcibly pulled Morgan into the hotel, but Dade finally stopped him, saying:
"I'm glad to see you again, Cavendale; but you'll have to excuse me from drinking. I've cut it out."
"Oh, come, old man, don't——"
"It's straight goods," asserted Morgan grimly. "No more of the lush for me."
"I can't believe it! And you were such a hot bunch! Well, come in to the bar and watch me lap up something."
He insisted until Morgan finally consented to accompany him to the bar. When they arrived there Cavendale renewed his urgent invitation, but Dade stood firm as far as liquor was concerned.
"Well, have something for old times' sake," said Cavendale. "I'm going to look on the rye. Take a lemonade, a ginger ale, anything to be sociable. I want you to tell me about yourself."
Dade took a lemonade.
Although Cavendale had stated that he wished Dade to tell about himself, he rattled off a rambling statement of his own affairs, claiming that he was "in on a big deal" that meant thousands to him.
"It's a snap," he asserted. "It's the greatest thing I ever struck. I'm bound to come out with my clothes lined with money. Hated to leave New York, but the people I'm in with are running things, and I go where they say."