MartinhadencounteredhissisterGertrudebychanceonBroadway—asitproved, , shehadseenhimfirst, andnotedtheeager, hungrylinesofhisfaceandthedesperate, , , , Martinhadpledgedhiswheelsometimesinceandretainedhisblacksuit.

"There'stheblacksuit," thepawnbroker, whoknewhiseveryasset, hadanswered."Youneedn'ttellmeyou'vegoneandpledgeditwiththatJew, —"

Themanhadlookedthethreat, andMartinhastenedtocry:-

"No, no; I'."

"Allright," themollifiedusurerhadreplied."'tthinkI'minitformyhealth?"

"Butit'saforty-dollarwheel, ingoodcondition," Martinhadargued."Andyou', ; youtooktheinterestinadvance."

"Ifyouwantsomemore, bringthesuit," hadbeenthereplythatsentMartinoutofthestuffylittleden, sodesperateatheartastoreflectitinhisfaceandtouchhissistertopity.

, .

"Ain'tyoucomin'?" sheasked

Thenextmomentshehaddescendedtohisside.

"I'mwalking—exercise, youknow," heexplained.

"ThenI'llgoalongforafewblocks," sheannounced."Mebbeit''tbenfeelin' anytoosprytheselastfewdays."

Martinglancedatherandverifiedherstatementinhergeneralslovenlyappearance, intheunhealthyfat, inthedroopingshoulders, thetiredfacewiththesagginglines, andintheheavyfallofherfeet, withoutelasticity—averycaricatureofthewalkthatbelongstoafreeandhappybody.

"You'dbetterstophere," hesaid, thoughshehadalreadycometoahaltatthefirstcorner, "andtakethenextcar."

"Mygoodness!—ifIain'talltireda'ready!" shepanted."ButI''rethatthinthey'llbu'stlongbeforeyougitouttoNorthOakland."

"I'veabetterpairathome," wastheanswer.