people stared very hard at him and his gloves and the gardenia
in his coat and at the tramp accompanying him.

"You ain't going to eat two breakfasts, are yer?" asked
one of the very tough-looking waiters of the Object. The
Object looked uneasy, and Van Bibber, who stood beside his
chair, smiled in triumph.

"You're mistaken," he said to the waiter. "This
gentleman is starving; he has not tasted food for twenty-four
hours. Give him whatever he asks for!"

The Object scowled and the waiter grinned behind his tin
tray, and had the impudence to wink at Van Bibber, who
recovered from this in time to give the man a half-dollar and
so to make of him a friend for life. The Object ordered milk,
but Van Bibber protested and ordered two beefsteaks and fried
potatoes, hot rolls and two omelettes, coffee, and ham with
bacon.

"Holy smoke! watcher think I am?" yelled the Object, in
desperation.

"Hungry," said Van Bibber, very gently. "Or else an
impostor. And, you know, if you should happen to be the
latter, I should have to hand you over to the police."

Van Bibber leaned easily against the wall and read the
signs about him, and kept one eye on a policeman across the
street. The Object was choking and cursing through his