“Now, Reggie,” said Joe, with a quizzical smile, “tell me the sad story of your life. Go to it, old man. Tell me about Talham Tabbs.”
[CHAPTER IX]
A TRUSTING DISPOSITION
Reggie flushed and gave a little uneasy laugh. For one who usually had a very good opinion of himself, he seemed singularly embarrassed.
“The truth is, old top,” he said, “I scarcely know where to begin. I’m afraid I’ve been a fool, don’t you know.”
“Nonsense,” said Joe encouragingly. “We all make mistakes. The fool is not the man who makes a mistake but the one who makes the same mistake twice. The perfectly wise man has never yet been born. At least, if he has I’ve never met him.”
“It’s awfully good of you to talk that way,” replied Reggie, “and it makes it easier for me to tell you what I’ve got to say. But before I go any further, let me ask you one question: Have you seen anything of that Talham Tabbs I mentioned in my telegram?”
“Yes,” answered Joe nonchalantly. “I saw him for the first time yesterday. Rather unexpected meeting it was, too, for a fact.”