"So suddenly," I replied, "that I never knew who it was who rang me
up. No, thank you - not any for me."
"What!" cried Maguire, raising a depressed head suddenly. "You
won't have a drink in my house? Take care, young man. That's not
being a good boy!"
"But I've been dining out," I expostulated, "and had my whack. I
really have."
Barney Maguire smote the table with terrific
"Say, sonny, I like you a lot," said he. "But I shan't like you
any if you're not a good boy!"
"Very well, very well," I said hurriedly. "One finger, if I must."
And the secretary helped me to not more than two.
"Why should it have been your friend Raffles?" he inquired,
returning remorselessly to the charge, while Maguire roared "Drink
up!" and then drooped once more.
"I was half asleep," I answered, "and he was the first person who
occurred to me. We are both on the telephone, you see. And we had
made a bet - "
The glass was at my lips, but I was able to set it down untouched.
Maguire's huge jaw had dropped upon his spreading shirt-front, and
beyond him I saw the person in sequins fast asleep in the artistic
armchair.
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