"But I--I don't care to make a--a companion of anybody about whom I
know--nothing. That's why I--came to you. I--I thought it might be you
could give me--some information--about Mr. Bloodgood."

"You've come to the wrong place."

"Really? Don't you know--anything about him? You are--er--well
acquainted with him?"

"On the contrary, to-day is the first time we have ever spoken to him."

"Is that so?" said Mr. Slush, in evident disappointment. "You
are--er--young men about--about his age, and--and--"

"Not in his class," put in Diamond.

"No?" said Mr. Slush, looking at Jack queerly. "I didn't know--I
thought--"

There the queer little man stopped, seeming quite unable to proceed.
Then, in his hesitating, uncertain way, he tried to make it clear that
he did not care to play cards for money with anybody about whom he knew
nothing. He was not very effective in his explanation, and seemed
himself rather uncertain concerning his real reason for wishing to make
inquiries concerning Bloodgood.

Frank studied Mr. Slush closely, but could not take the measure of the
man. Somehow, Merry seemed to feel that there was more to the queer
little fellow than appeared on the surface.