Aunt Jane's Nieces

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Yet Uncle John seemed in no way elated by this reception. He retained

his simple manner, although his face was more grave than Patsy had

often seen it; and he talked with easy familiarity of preferred stocks

and amalgamated interests and invested, securities and many other

queer things that the banker seemed to understand fully and to listen

to with respectful deference.

Then they returned to the bank for another long session together, and

there was quite an eager bustle among the clerks as they stretched

their necks to get a glimpse of Mr. Marvin's companion.

"It's John Merrick" passed from mouth to mouth, and the uniformed

official strutted from one window to another, saying:

"I showed him in myself. And he came into the bank as quiet like as

anyone else would."

But he didn't go away quietly, you may be sure. Mr. Marvin and Mr.

Isham both escorted their famous client to the door, where the Marvin

carriage had been ordered to be in readiness for Mr. Merrick's

service.

But Uncle John waived it aside disdainfully.

"I'll walk," he said. "There are some other errands to attend to."

So they shook his hand and reminded him of a future appointment and

let him go his way. In a moment the great Broadway crowd had swallowed

up John Merrick, and five minutes later he was thoughtfully gazing

into a shop window again.

By and bye he bethought himself of the time, and took a cab uptown. He

had more than the twelve cents in his pocket, now, besides the check

book which was carefully hidden away in an inside pocket; so the cost

of the cab did not worry him. He dismissed the vehicle near an uptown

corner and started to walk hastily toward Danny Reeves's restaurant, a

block away, Patsy was standing in the doorway, anxiously watching for

him.

"Oh, Uncle John," she cried, as he strolled "I've been really worried

about you; it's such a big city, and you a stranger. Do you know

you're ten minutes late?"

"I'm sorry," he said, humbly; "but it's a long way here from

downtown."

"Didn't you take a car?

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