“Thank you, sir!”

The young man drew the chair indicated by Sharpman closer to the table, and settled himself comfortably into it.

“It is somewhat unusual, I presume,” he said, “for attorneys to receive calls on Sunday evening:—­

  “But this motto I hold as a part of my creed,
  The better the day, why, the better the deed.

“Excuse me!  Oh, no; it doesn’t hurt.  I’ve been composing extemporaneous verse like that for fifteen years.  Philosophy and rhyme are my forte.  I’ve had some narrow escapes to be sure, but I’ve never been deserted by the muses.  Now, as to my Sunday evening call.  It seemed to be somewhat of a necessity, as I understand that the evidence will be closed in the Burnham case at the opening of court to-morrow.  Am I right?”

“It may be, and it may not be,” said Sharpman, somewhat curtly.  “I am not acquainted with the plans of the defence.  Are you interested in the case?”

“Indirectly, yes.  You see, Craft and I have been friends for a good many years, we have exchanged confidences, and have matured plans together.  I am pretty well acquainted with the history of his successes and his failures.”

“Then it will please you to know that he is pretty certain to meet with success in the Burnham suit.”

“Yes?  I am quite delighted to hear it:—­

  “Glad to know that wit and pluck
  Bring their owner such good-luck.

“But, between you and me, the old gentleman has brought some faculties to bear on this case besides wit and pluck.”

“Ah, indeed?”

“Yes, indeed!  You see, I knew all about this matter up to the time the boy ran away.  To tell the truth, the old man didn’t treat the lad just right, and I gave the little fellow a pointer on getting off.  Old Simon hasn’t been so friendly to me since, for some reason.

  “Strange what trifles oft will tend
  To cool the friendship of a friend.

“In fact, I was not aware that the boy had been found, until I heard that fact from his own lips one day last fall, in Wilkesbarre.  We met by a happy chance, and I entertained him on account of old acquaintance’s sake.”

In a moment the story of Ralph’s adventure in Wilkesbarre returned to Sharpman, and he recognized Rhyming Joe as the person who had swindled the lad out of his money.  He looked at the young man sternly, and said:—­

“Yes; I have heard the story of that chance meeting.  You were very liberal on account of old acquaintance’s sake, were you not? entertained the boy till his pocket was empty, didn’t you?” and the lawyer cast a look of withering contempt on his visitor.

But Rhyming Joe did not wither.  On the contrary, he broke into a merry fit of laughter.

“Good joke on the lad, wasn’t it?” he replied.  “A little rough, perhaps, but you see I was pretty hard up just then; hadn’t had a square meal before in two days.  I’ll not forget the boy’s generosity, though; I’ll call and see him when he comes into his fortune; he’ll be delighted to receive me, I’ve no doubt.