"Have they come or gone?" the real-estater asked.
"Both." Pape's mind still was somewhat afield.
"Just my luck to be too late. Mrs. Sturgis might have 'phoned me sooner. Seems to me I should have been sent for first, whatever the scrape. Tell me, she got off all right--Miss Lauderdale?"
"Why not?" Pape nodded, his mental eye upon the good and bad in this rival to whom the baby vamp in the cast had erroneously assigned the successful suitor rôle. "We both are loose," he added. "She got off scot-free and I, fortunately, was able to pay my fine. Mr. Allen fixed everything. He's a capable somebody, the judge, a valuable acquaintance for anybody restricted to life in an overgrown town like N' York. He has a new client if anything else happens to me."
At these assorted remarks Harford's manner changed. The concern on his handsome face made way for a positive glare as he leaned over the side of the car toward his informant.
"Can't say I'm greatly concerned in what may or may not happen to you in the near or far future, Pape, but I'll contribute gratis a word or two of advice. Remember that you are in the semi-civilization of N' York Town, not the wild and woolly. Be a bit more careful."
"Ain't used to being careful for my own sake." The Westerner all at once felt inspired that the occasion was one for a show of good-cheer. "Like as not, though, I'd better take your advices to heart, especially as they're gratis, for the sake of my friends and playmates."
Harford snapped him up. "At any rate, in the future don't involve women. If you must run amuck, run it and muck it alone. If you make any more disturbance around Miss Lauderdale, you'll hear from me."
Now, this sounded more like "legitimate" than the movies. The potential villain's sneer and tone of superiority brought out the regular impulses of a hero like a rash on Pape. Only with effort did he guard his tongue.
"Wouldn't take any bets on my being in a listening mood, Harfy," he made remark.
"You'll listen to what I have to say, I guess, mood or no mood," Harford continued. "Your debut into a circle where you never can belong was amusing at first. But any joke may be overplayed. This one is getting too tiresome to be practical. I've tried to keep to myself what I think about an oil-stock shark like you catapulting himself into such a family as the Sturgis', but if you want me to illustrate----"
