"And the only immoral thing; for if you and Van Meter ever agree
you will both do some tall lying."

"I think I'll take your advice and see him, anyhow."






CHAPTER IV

THE SHORTHORN DEACON





Gordon and Overman came into town on the four o'clock express. They
sat down in opposite seats near the centre of the car.

Neither of them noticed Van Meter, who also lived at Babylon in the
summer, board the train as it pulled out of the station. He was a
pompous little man, short and red-faced, with gray side whiskers
and bald head. His eyes were sharp and beady and shined like
shoe-buttons. Piety and thrift were written all over him. As a
deacon he passed the bread and wine at the Lord's Table on Sunday,
with his black eyes half closed, dreaming of cornering the bread
market of the world on Monday. For him New York was the centre of
the universe, and the Stock Exchange was the centre of New York.