"Oh, well, it's all right if you don't care to. I find it just the
thing to settle my nerves after a big day's work."
They walked on in silence for nearly a block, and the boy was wondering
how best to leave Norris without offending him when the latter spoke
up.
"Here are the rooms of the Laurel Club," he said, pointing up to the
narrow but brilliantly lighted stairways of a handsome building just
around the corner of a side street.
"The Laurel Club?" repeated Richard.
"Yes; it is a club of about twenty young fellows. I am a member. We
have a reading-room, and another for all kinds of games."
Norris did not take the trouble to add that "all kinds of games" had
narrowed down to simply card playing, and that for money, too.
"Just come up for a moment," he went on. "I wish to get a book I left
there a few nights ago."
"I'll wait for you here," replied Richard.
"No, no; I want to show you the rooms. We have some fine pictures and
all that up there."
Somewhat against his will Richard consented. Norris led the way up
three flights of stairs and then down a side hall.
Stopping at a certain door he gave two distinct knocks, followed by
a single one.
There was a hurried movement within, and then the door, which had been
securely locked, was cautiously opened.
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