He looked around as Tom
appeared, and grinned in a friendly way under the Chinese lanterns.
"Tough luck, to get caught at the last minute, eh?" he said.
"Mr. Per--Parker----" began Tom, and stopped.
The "biggest hotel man in the country" looked at the greenest young
innkeeper, and there was satisfaction in his bright black eyes.
"Not any thanks, son. Should have croaked in one week more if I couldn't
have worked off a few pounds of high pressure. This sort of thing to
me's like a game to a gambler--as I told you. Had to keep incog., or I'd
have had a dozen parties from town after me on one deal or another.
Thought I could put this little stunt through without giving myself
away--but came downstairs five minutes too soon. Went off pretty
well--eh? You'll have patronage after this, all right. No--no thanks, I
said. I'm under obligations to you for trusting me to run the thing.
It's saved my life!"
Well, if it were all a game, Tom thought, as he watched Mr. Christopher
Parker run lightly up the stairs, a few minutes later, it was certainly
a wondrous friendly one.
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