"Mr. Locke is out at present," said the man behind the desk, winking slyly at a fellow clerk; "but if you will leave your card--" "If one isn't sufficient, I'll leave the whole pack of fifty-two. It is my habit to carry a deck with me for emergencies. Perchance, however, you can tell me when Lefty is liable to return." At that moment Locke, coming in, saw the sailor, and hurried forward. The Marine Marvel teetered to meet him, beaming broadly. They shook hands, and Locke drew the sailor toward two vacant chairs. "Jones?" questioned Lefty as they sat down. "Where is he? How is he?" "He's right here in this little old burg," was the answer. "Nothing short of his demise could have prevented me from keeping my agreement to deliver him to you. He is on the mend, and it is probable that he'll soon be as frisky and formidable as ever. But I have qualms. I fear greatly that something has happened to cause Jonesy to lose interest in baseball forever and for aye. Were I in his boots, I'd go on one long spree that would reach from here to Hongkong, and even farther. Hold your breath, Lefty, and hold it hard. Jones has come into a modest little fortune of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars or thereabouts." "Quite a joke!" said the pitcher. "I don't blame you for doubting me. In your place I'd have made a remark a shade more violent. But the seal of voracity is on my lips. I didn't know it when I saw you last, but at that time he had practically sold his interest in his Alaska possessions. I have stated the sum he received for his share in that pretty bit of property." "Enough to keep him in pin money for some time," replied Lefty, still skeptical. "If he could be induced to use it for his own wants he could dodge becoming a pauper for quite a while. But, Lefty, you can't guess what he's going to do with it. Excuse me while I sigh. I have argued and pleaded until my fingers became tongue-tied; but I've failed to move him from his fixed determination. He is going to give every dollar of that money away!" Of course, Locke thought that Wiley was drawing the long bow, as usual. "I hope he won't overlook his friends when he passes it around," he said, smiling. "His friends won't get a dollar!" declared Wiley. "He's going to give it to his enemies." This was too much for the southpaw. "Let's cut the comedy," he urged. The sailor gave him a chastening look. "It isn't comedy; it's tragedy, Lefty. He believes it his duty. He believes he is bound, as a man of honor, to do it. Listen and I will elucidate. Did you ever hear of the Central Yucatan Rubber Company?" "I don't think so."