"What have you been doing with yourself, Jack?" he demanded, sliding his
chair back from the desk at which he was seated. "I haven't had a
glimpse of you in days."

"I have been keeping rather quiet."

"What's the matter? Liver out of whack?" Langham smiled complacently.

"Worse than that!" North rejoined moodily.

"That's saying a good deal? What is it, Jack?"

But North was not inclined to lay bare his heart; he doubted if Langham
could be made to comprehend any part of his suffering.

"I am getting down to my last dollar, Marsh. I don't know where the
money went, but it's gone," he finally said.

Langham nodded.

"You have certainly had your little time, Jack, and it's been a
perfectly good little time, too! What are you going to do when you are
cleaned out?"

"That's part of the puzzle, Marsh, that's the very hell and all of it."

"Well, you have had your fun--lots of it!" said Langham, swabbing his
face.

North noticed the embroidered initial in the corner of the handkerchief.