“I believe this is Mr. Perkins, of Minneapolis?”

“Yes, sir,” answered the Westerner, eying the gambler with a penetrating glance.

“I shall be glad to be your guide if you wish to see something of New York. Will you join us this evening?”

“You are very polite, but I have an engagement with Chester.”

“A mere boy! He knows nothing about the city.”

“Still I am satisfied with him.”

The two passed on and went into the bar-room, where they sat down at a table and ordered some liquid refreshment.

“Well, Mullins,” said the gambler, “I am getting impatient. The days are slipping by, and you have done nothing.”

“You know what I am waiting for. Yesterday a check for a thousand dollars was paid in at the office, and deposited in the bank to-day.”

“Good! And then?”