"Not I," said Jim. "Then you vill not vant it?" "Well, I suppose not." "You vill lend me the outside, then. Eh? You vill lend me the vall?" "Lend you the wall--what for?" "First say you vill lend it me!" "Well, I’ll lend it you. Now tell me what you’ll do with it," said Jim. Mr Harris rubbed his hands together. "I vill let it for advertisements. It vill be an ’oarding. I vill let it to one of those contractors--it vill be a fine ’oarding. It vill not ’urt you, and it vill bring me money." "Where do _I_ come in?" demanded Jim, laughing. "Vy, it vill ’_elp_ you, my dear doctor. People will look at the ’oarding, and then they vill see your plate, and then they vill come in for advice, and you’ll make a fortune, doctor dear--all through me! Vy, you ought to pay me for the idea!" "I hadn’t thought of it in that light," said Jim, much amused. The old dealer chuckled with glee. "Ah, my son Isaac!" he cried, "you shall sing yet vith the uzzer side of your mouth. I shall ’ave money. The evenin’ paper shall come--_Isaac_ vill mark the ’orses now--’e will back them, _and I vill back vot ’e backs_. Then ve vill see!" "That will be a cute dodge--if it comes off!" said Jim. "Come off--it _must_!" cried the old man, with the fatalism of the confirmed gambler, "it can’t ’_elp_ itself! Aha! And then ve vill see, Isaac my son, _ve vill see_!" *CHAPTER XIV.* *A PIECE OF NEWS.* Jim went to work on the ex-pawnbroking establishment with marvellous energy. He had bank-notes in his pocket, and a compelling personality which duly influenced the workmen he engaged to make the necessary alterations. In a few days his surgery was ready, and the door of it adorned with a neat brass plate bearing his name. Koko called and ran a critical eye over the place. "It’ll do," he said; "now go ahead and cut out old Taplow." "Well, it’s all your idea," said Jim, "and carried out with your money, old man. By the way, many thanks for the loan. You bolted off in such a hurry the other day that I’d no time----" "Had to go to a trotting match," explained Koko, briefly. Jim was rather surprised himself at the way he had "got to work." In the morning he went off to his surgery full of zest and expectancy; his duties interested him keenly. True, very few people came to him to be doctored, but Jim had a stout heart, and thoroughly believed that he would be able to work up a good practice--in time. At present the folks round there went to the surgery they were used to--Dr Taplow’s. They were yet to learn what Jim was made of. The man Taplow had "put in" was ten years older than Jim--bearded and serious, with a grave, telling manner, behind which lay (apparently) a wealth of knowledge. Jim’s extreme youthfulness was against him. The ladies of the neighbourhood declared that they weren’t going to be doctored by a boy like that, and Taplow’s new man throve in consequence.