"You say your father is very sick?"
"He don't know anybody."
"Have you help—a doctor—a nurse?"
"No sir. We haven't any money. My father spent it all for the lots that he bought from you."
Dave winced. Then, turning to the young woman, "I'm afraid this is a more urgent case than yours. I'll call a taxi to take you to your address."
To his surprise his visitor broke out in a ribald laugh. She had seated herself on a desk, and was swinging one foot jauntily.
"It's all off," she said. "Say, Dave, you couldn't lose me in this burg. You don't remember me, do you? Well, all the better. I'm rather glad I broke down on this job. I used to be something of an actress, and I'd have put it over if it hadn't been for the kid. The fact is, Dave," she continued, "I was sent up here to decoy you. It wasn't fair fighting, and I didn't like it, but money has been mighty slow of late. I wonder—how much you'd give to know who sent me?"
Dave pulled some bills from his pocket and held them before her. She took them from his hand.
"Conward," she said.
Dave's blood went to his head. "The scoundrel!" he cried. "The low down dog! There's more in this than appears on the surface."