"You do ver' much, my frien', to help make it better," replied
Tony, shaking his head, "but still I not make much money."
"Are you hard up at Christmas, Tony?" asked Brimmer, with pretended sympathy.
"Oh, yes, sare; all time hard up."
At that moment Brimmer's gleaming eyes saw Dave Darrin and Dan
Dalzell passing on the other side of the street.
"Quick, Tony! Get a look at my friends over there!" whispered Brimmer. "Take such a good look that you will know them again anywhere. Now, it's the one on the inside, especially. Note him sharply, Tony."
"I never mistake him again, sare, eff I see him," replied the
Greek gravely.
"Do you see many of these ten-dollar bills nowadays, Tony?" questioned
Brimmer, carelessly displaying a banknote.
The Greek shook his head wistfully.
"This is yours now, Tony; and twice as much more afterwards, if you do what I want of you. It's a good joke that I want to play on a midshipman down at the Academy."
"A joke, eh?" repeated the Greek. "Then, sare, my frien', it can't be anything so ver' bad, eef it only a joke."