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then I sawwell； Mr。 Demorest； I reckon I saw JUST WHAT YOU HAVE
SEEN！ But even then I wasn't quite satisfied； for that man had
been grubbing round as if searching for something。 So I searched
tooand I found IT。 I've got it here。 I'm going to give it to
you； for it may some day come in handy； and you won't find anything
like it among the folks where you're going。 It's something unique；
as those fine…art…collecting sharps in 'Frisco saysomething quite
matchless； unless you try to match it one day yourself！ Don't open
the paper until I run on and say 'So long' to your partners。 Good…
by。〃
He grasped Demorest's hand and then dropped the little packet into
his palm； and ambled away towards Stacy and Barker。 Holding the
packet in his hand with an amused yet puzzled smile； Demorest
watched the gambler give Stacy's hand a hearty farewell shake and a
supplementary slap on the back to the delighted Barker； and then
vanish in a flash of red sash and silver buttons。 At which
Demorest； walking slowly towards his partners； opened the packet；
and stood suddenly still。 It contained the dried and bloodless
second finger of a human hand cut off at the first joint！
For an instant he held it at arm's length； as if about to cast it
away。 Then he grimly replaced it in the paper； put it carefully in
his pocket； and silently walked after his companions。
CHAPTER I
A strong southwester was beating against the windows and doors of
Stacy's Bank in San Francisco； and spreading a film of rain between
the regular splendors of its mahogany counters and sprucely dressed
clerks and the usual passing pedestrian。 For Stacy's new banking…
house had long since received the epithet of 〃palatial〃 from an
enthusiastic local press fresh from the 〃opening〃 luncheon in its
richly decorated directors' rooms； and it was said that once a
homely would…be depositor from One Horse Gulch was so cowed by its
magnificence that his heart failed him at the last moment； and
mumbling an apology to the elegant receiving teller； fled with his
greasy chamois pouch of gold…dust to deposit his treasure in the
dingy Mint around the corner。 Perhaps there was something of this
feeling； mingled with a certain simple…minded fascination； in the
hesitation of a stranger of a higher class who entered the bank
that rainy morning and finally tendered his card to the important
negro messenger。
The card preceded him through noiselessly swinging doors and across
heavily carpeted passages until it reached the inner core of Mr。
James Stacy's private offices； and was respectfully laid before
him。 He was not alone。 At his side； in an attitude of polite and
studied expectancy； stood a correct…looking young man； for whom Mr。
Stacy was evidently writing a memorandum。 The stranger glanced
furtively at the card with a curiosity hardly in keeping with his
suggested good breeding； but Stacy did not look at it until he had
finished his memorandum。
〃There；〃 he said； with business decision； 〃you can tell your people
that if we carry their new debentures over our limit we will expect
a larger margin。 Ditches are not what they were three years ago
when miners were willing to waste their money over your rates。
They don't gamble THAT WAY any more； and your company ought to know
it； and not gamble themselves over that prospect。〃 He handed the
paper to the stranger； who bowed over it with studied politeness；
and backed towards the door。 Stacy took up the waiting card； read
it； said to the messenger； 〃Show him in；〃 and in the same breath
turned to his guest： 〃I say； Van Loo； it's George Barker！ You know
him。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Van Loo； with a polite hesitation as he halted at the
door。 〃He wasI thinkerin your employ at Heavy Tree Hill。〃
〃Nonsense！ He was my partner。 And you must have known him since
at Boomville。 Come！ He got forty shares of Ditch stockthrough
youat 110； which were worth about 80！ SOMEBODY must have made
money enough by it to remember him。〃
〃I was only speaking of him socially；〃 said Van Loo； with a
deprecating smile。 〃You know he married a young womanthe hotel…
keeper's daughter； who used to wait at the tableand after my
mother and sister came out to keep house for me at Boomville it was
quite impossible for me to see much of him； for he seldom went out
without his wife； you know。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Stacy dryly； 〃I think you didn't like his marriage。
But I'm glad your disinclination to see him isn't on account of
that deal in stocks。〃
〃Oh no；〃 said Van Loo。 〃Good…by。〃
But； unfortunately； in the next passage he came upon Barker； who
with a cry of unfeigned pleasure； none the less sincere that he was
feeling a little alien in these impressive surroundings； recognized
him。 Nothing could exceed Van Loo's protest of delight at the
meeting； nothing his equal desolation at the fact that he was
hastening to another engagement。 〃But your old partner；〃 he added；
with a smile； 〃is waiting for you； he has just received your card；
and I should be only keeping you from him。 So glad to see you；
you're looking so well。 Good…by！ Good…by！〃
Reassured； Barker no longer hesitated； but dashed with his old
impetuousness into his former partner's room。 Stacy； already
deeply absorbed in other business； was sitting with his back
towards him； and Barker's arms were actually encircling his neck
before the astonished and half…angry man looked up。 But when his
eyes met the laughing gray ones of Barker above him he gently
disengaged himself with a quick return of the caress； rose； shut
the door of an inner office； and returning pushed Barker into an
armchair in quite the old suppressive fashion of former days。 Yes；
it was the same Stacy that Barker looked at； albeit his brown beard
was now closely cropped around his determined mouth and jaw in a
kind of grave decorum； and his energetic limbs already attuned to
the rigor of clothes of fashionable cut and still more rigorous
sombreness of color。
〃Barker boy；〃 he began； with the familiar twinkle in his keen eyes
which the younger partner remembered； 〃I don't encourage stag
dancing among my young men during bank hours； and you'll please to
remember that we are not on Heavy Tree Hill〃
〃Where；〃 broke in Barker enthusiastically； 〃we were only overlooked
by the Black Spur Range and the Sierran snow…line； where the
nearest voice that came to you was quarter of a mile away as the
crow flies and nearly a mile by the trail。〃
〃And was generally an oath！〃 said Stacy。 〃But you're in San
Francisco NOW。 Where are you stopping？〃 He took up a pencil and
held it over a memorandum pad awaitingly。
〃At the Brook House。 It's〃
〃Hold on！ 'Brook House；'〃 Stacy repeated as he jotted it down。
〃And for how long？〃
〃Oh； a day or two。 You see； Kitty〃
Stacy checked him with a movement of his pencil in the air； and
then wrote down； 〃'Day or two。' Wife with you？〃