Jennings,"
he said, "and his name is Julius Gibbon."
Philip Stark wheeled round, and eyed Leonard
in blank astonishment.
"Your uncle is Julius Gibbon!" he exclaimed.
"Yes."
"Well, I'll be blowed."
"Do you--know my uncle?" asked Leonard, hesitating.
"I rather think I do. Take me round to the house.
I want to see him."
CHAPTER XXI.
AN UNWELCOME GUEST.
When Julius Gibbon saw the door open and
Philip Stark enter the room where he was
smoking his noon cigar, his heart quickened
its pulsations and he turned pale.
"How are you, old friend?" said Stark,
boisterously. "Funny, isn't it, that I should run
across your nephew?"
"Very strange!" ejaculated Gibbon, looking
the reverse of joyous.
"It's a happy meeting, isn't it? We used to
see a good deal of each other," and he laughed
in a way that Gibbon was far from enjoying.
"Now, I've come over to have a good, long chat
with you. Leonard, I think we won't keep
you, as you wouldn't be interested in our talk
about old times."
"Yes, Leonard, you may leave us," added his uncle.
Leonard's curiosity was excited, and he
would have been glad to remain, but as there
was no help for it, he went out.
When they were alone, Stark drew up his
chair close, and laid his hand familiarly on
the bookkeeper's knee.
"I say, Gibbon, do you remember where we last met?"
Gibbon shuddered slightly.
"Yes," he answered, feebly.
"It was at Joliet--Joliet Penitentiary. Your
time expired before mine. I envied you the
six months' advantage you had of me.
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