KIRBY AND I MEET Sal remained seated behind the bar, nodding, and, so soon as I felt reasonably assured that she was without interest in my movements, I leaned forward and endeavored to arouse Kennedy.

This was by no means easy of accomplishment, and I was compelled to pinch the fellow rather severely before he sat up angrily, blurting out the first words which came to his lips: "What the devil--" His half-opened eyes caught my gesture for silence, and he stopped instantly, his lips widely parted.
"Meet me outside," I whispered, warningly.

"But be careful about it." The slight noise had failed to disturb the woman, and I succeeded in slipping through the unlatched door without noting any change in her posture.

Tim, now thoroughly awake, and aware of something serious in the air, was not long in joining me without, and I drew him aside into a spot of deeper blackness under the trees.

He was still indignant over the pinching, and remained drunk enough to be quarrelsome.