"Then you won't take any part in the enterprise?"

"Not any," Collaton assured him with a wave of negation. "If Johnny
will let me alone I'll let him alone, and be glad of the chance."

Later, Gresham saw Johnny come back and speak to Heinrich Schnitt;
but he had no curiosity about it. Whatever affairs Johnny had in
hand just now he might carry through unmolested, for Gresham was
busy with larger plans for his future undoing.





CHAPTER XVI

IN WHICH JOHNNY PLANS A REHEARSAL BETWEEN OLD FRIENDS




Johnny Gamble was waiting at the store when Louis Ersten came down
the next morning. Mr. Ersten walked in with a portentous frown on
his brow and began to take off his coat as he strode back toward the
cutting room. He frowned still more deeply as Johnny confronted him.

"Again!" he exclaimed, looking about him in angry despair as if he
had some wild idea of calling a porter. "First it's Lofty; then it's
some slick real estate schemer; then it's you! I will not sell the
lease!"