"
"Get off that horse and give me a boost," Tom commanded. With a grunt
of satisfaction he sprang to the horse's back. The belated impulse to
philander that an hour before sent him creeping through back streets and
alleyways to the door of Fanny Twist's house was all gone, and in its place
had come the spirit of the man of affairs, the man who, as he himself often
boasted, made things move and kept them on the move. "Now look here, Jim,"
he said sharply, "there are three livery stables in this town. You engage
every horse they've got for the night. Have the horses hitched to any kind
of rigs you can find, buggies, surreys, spring wagons, anything. Have them
get drivers off the streets, anywhere. Then have them all brought around
in front of the Bidwell House and held for me. When you've done that, you
go to Henry Heller's house. I guess you can find it. You found this house
where I was fast enough. He lives on Campus Street just beyond the new
Baptist Church. If he's gone to bed you get him up. Tell him to get his
orchestra together and have him bring all the lively music he's got. Tell
him to bring his men to the Bidwell House as fast as he can get them
there."
Tom rode off along the street followed by Jim Priest, running at the
horse's heels. When he had gone a little way he stopped. "Don't let any one
fuss with you about prices to-night, Jim," he called. "Tell every one it's
for me.
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