“Reed will hand me another laugh,” he muttered dismally. “Fate’s against me, sure.”
He dragged himself through the hotel lobby; then, catching sight of a swinging door and hearing the tinkle of glasses, he determined to do a very unusual thing.
“I’ll take a good, stiff drink before I eat,” he said to himself, with an air of martyrdom.
He pushed his way into the bar and gulped down a high ball. His lagging and depressed spirits seemed started on the upward climb. He encouraged them by repeating his order. Just as he finished tipping up the second glass a hand fell upon his shoulder.
“Hello,” he said, whirling, “who are you?”
A flushed and grinning face was lifted to his own.
“I remember you,” the intruder stated very clearly, blinking his eyes. “Your friends left you at the dock last night, didn’t they?”
“By Jove!” exclaimed Tod, as the truth dawned upon him. “You’re the cabby who——” He stopped, and his heart began to pound swiftly. What luck this was!
“What are you drinking?” he asked, motioning to the alert barkeeper.
When the drinks were before them, Tod resumed his talk. “Where did you take my friends last night, cabby?”