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struggle to give the world something of value in return for what it
had given him? The quick, almost deprecatory glance he darted at
George betrayed his dismay; a dismay which George had begun to share,
notwithstanding his growing belief that the man's face was not
wholly unknown to him even if he could not recognise it as the one
he had seen outside the Clermont.
"You seem to have forgotten your errand," came in quiet, if not
good-natured, sarcasm from their patiently waiting host.
"It's the room," muttered Sweetwater, with an attempt at his
old-time ease which was not as fully successful as usual. "What
an all-fired genius you must be. I never saw the like. And in
a tenement house too! You ought to be in one of those big new
studio buildings in New York where artists be and everything you
see is beautiful. You'd appreciate it, you would."
The detective started, George started, at the gleam which answered
him from a very uncommon eye. It was a temporary flash, however,
and quickly veiled, and the tone in which this Dunn now spoke was
anything but an encouraging one.
"I thought you were desirous of joining a socialistic fraternity,"
said he; " a true aspirant for such honours don't care for beautiful
things unless all can have them. I prefer my tenement. How is it
with you, friends?"
Sweetwater found some sort of a reply, though the thing which this
man now did must have startled him, as it certainly did George.
They were so grouped that a table quite full of anomalous objects
stood at the back of their host, and consequently quite beyond their
own reach. As Sweetwater began to speak, he whom he had addressed
by the name of Dunn, drew a pistol from his breast pocket and laid
it down barrel towards them on this table top. Then he looked up
courteously enough, and listened till Sweetwater was done. A very
handsome man, but one not to be trifled with in the slightest degree.
Both recognised this fact, and George, for one, began to edge
towards the door.
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