guy here. When anything big is doing the newspaper guys interview him

and his name is in all the lists of subscriptions to charity--when

they're going to be published in the papers. I'll bet he takes

nine-tenths of his kale from women and children, and he's an honored

citizen. I ain't no angel, but whatever I've taken didn't cause nobody

any sufferin'--I'm a thief, bo, and I'm mighty proud of it when I think

of what this other guy is."

Thirty per cent of fifty thousand dollars! Jimmy was sitting with his

legs crossed. He looked down at his ill-fitting, shabby trousers, and

then turned up the sole of one shoe which was worn through almost to his

sock. The Lizard watched him as a cat watches a mouse. He knew that the

other was thinking hard, and that presently he would reach a decision,

and through Jimmy's mind marched a sordid and hateful procession of

recent events--humiliation, rebuff, shame, poverty, hunger, and in the

background the face of his father and the face of a girl whose name,

even, he did not know.

Presently he looked up at the Lizard.

"Nothing doing, old top," he said. "But don't mistake the motives which

prompt me to refuse your glittering offer. I am moved by no moral

scruples, however humiliating such a confession should be. The way I

feel now I would almost as lief go out and rob widows and orphans

myself, but each of us, some time in our life, has to consider some one

who would probably rather see us dead than disgraced. I don't know

whether you get me or not."

"I get you," replied the Lizard, "and while you may never wear diamonds,

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