“I don’t know.”
“Was it a lady or a gentleman?”
“I should say it was a lady.”
“You judge from the handwriting?”
“Yes.”
“That will do. You were well paid.”
Ike stood and looked after the man and muttered:
“Well, I am getting into this matter pretty deep; that man has an enemy; he wants him put out of the way, ‘dropped out.’ Yes, I see, and now I know there is a woman in the case, and I have already picked up six dollars out of the adventure. A gold mine for me; good enough, I am on the side of the young man, Burlein, and I am against the old fellow. I begin to get on to things. I’ll know more later, and a big game is being played, and I am peeping into the mystery.”
Ike hung around the whole forenoon until he saw the young man, Burlein, come forth, and then he followed him. Our hero was fairly well dressed for a lad, and when he saw Burlein enter a restaurant he followed, and boldly took a seat at the same table. The young man stared, and then said, good-naturedly:
“Well, lad, are you going to spend your half dollar?”