WEALTH WITHOUT WINGS. 151

 

An instant change was visible in Martin, who,
rising, commenced buttoning up his coat. There
was about him every mark of a manaleeply offended.

‘Good evening, sir!” said he, with a low, formal
bow, yet with his eyes fixed searchingly in those of
the merchant.

“‘ Martin,’’—Jasper did not smile, nor was there in
his voice the slightest affectation of good feeling—
yet his manner and tone were both decisive,—‘* Mar-
tin, sit down again. Talk in reason, and I will hear.”

The man resumed his seat, and, with his eyes still
in those of Jasper, said—

‘¢T have talked in reason. You are worth, so re-
port says, not less than three hundred thousand dol-
lars. How the first hundred thousand came, is
known, certainly, only to one man beside you and
me. In procuring that large sum I was a very pro-
minent agent.”

“You have already been paid for your services a
dozen times over.”

“ There may bea difference of opinion about this,”
replied the man boldly—“ and there 7s a difference
of opinion.”

““Thave already advanced you over five thousand
dollars.”’

‘What of that! Five thousand to three hundred
thousand that you have made by the operation.”

‘You are in error, Martin,” said Jasper, with a
blended look of perplexity and distress. ‘‘ lam not
worth the sum you have mentioned—nothing like it.
uy losses during the past six months have been very

eavy.”