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Jew in furs！〃
I followed the direction of his eyes。 Below us on the dock；
protected by two obvious members of the strong…arm squad； the
great banker； philanthropist； and Hebrew； Adolph Meyer； was
waiting。
We were so close that I could read his face。 It was stern； set；
the face of a man intent upon his duty； unrelenting。 Without
question； of a bad business Mr。 Smedburg had made the worst。 I
turned to speak to Talbot and found him gone。
His silent slipping away filled me with alarm。 I fought against a
growing fear。 How many minutes I searched for him I do not know。
It seemed many hours。 His cabin； where first I sought him； was
empty and dismantled； and by that I was reminded that if for any
desperate purpose Talbot were seeking to conceal himself there
now were hundreds of other empty； dismantled cabins in which he
might hide。 To my inquiries no one gave heed。 In the confusion of
departure no one had observed him； no one was in a humor to seek
him out； the passengers were pressing to the gangway； the
stewards concerned only in counting their tips。 From deck to
deck； down lane after lane of the great floating village； I
raced blindly； peering into half…opened doors； pushing through
groups of men； pursuing some one in the distance who appeared to
be the man I sought； only to find he was unknown to me。 When I
returned to the gangway the last of the passengers was leaving
it。
I was about to follow to seek for Talbot in the customs shed when
a white…faced steward touched my sleeve。 Before he spoke his look
told me why I was wanted。
〃The ship's surgeon； sir；〃 he stammered； 〃asks you please to
hurry to the sick…bay。 A passenger has shot himself！〃
On the bed； propped up by pillows； young Talbot； with glazed；
shocked eyes； stared at me。 His shirt had been cut away； his
chest lay bare。 Against his left shoulder the doctor pressed a
tiny sponge which quickly darkened。
I must have exclaimed aloud； for the doctor turned his eyes。
〃It was HE sent for you；〃 he said； 〃but he doesn't need you。
Fortunately； he's a damned bad shot！〃
The boy's eyes opened wearily； before we could prevent it he
spoke。
〃I was so tired；〃 he whispered。 〃Always moving me on。 I was so
tired！〃
Behind me came heavy footsteps； and though with my arm I tried to
bar them out； the two detectives pushed into the doorway。 They
shoved me to one side and through the passage made for him came
the Jew in the sable coat； Mr。 Adolph Meyer。
For an instant the little great man stood with wide； owl…like
eyes； staring at the face on the pillow。
Then he sank softly to his knees。 In both his hands he caught the
hand of the card…sharp。
〃Heine！〃 he begged。 〃Don't you know me？ It is your brother
Adolph； your little brother Adolph！〃
End