and a menace to his son; while to the object of his solicitude the
aforesaid criminal was nothing more than an entertaining
companion, whose bizarre disregard of all established rules of
right and wrong matched well with his own careless temper.
Higgins, moreover, was an ardent follower of athletics, revolving
like a satellite about the football stars, and attaching himself
especially to Kirk, who was too good-natured to find fault with an
honest admirer.

It was Higgins this evening who, after the "cripples" had deserted
and the supper party had dwindled to perhaps a dozen, proposed to
make a night of it. It was always Higgins who proposed to make a
night of it, and now, as usual, his words were greeted with
enthusiasm.

Having obtained the floor, he gazed owlishly over the flushed
faces around the table and said:

"I wish to announce that, in our little journey to the underworld,
we will visit some places of rare interest and educational value.
First we will go to the House of Seven Turnings."

"No poetry, Hig!" some one cried. "What is it?"

"It is merely a rendezvous of pickpockets and thieves, accessible
only to a chosen few. I feel sure you will enjoy yourselves there,
for the bartender has the secret of a remarkable gin fizz, sweeter
than a maiden's smile, more intoxicating than a kiss."

"Piffle!"