WEALTH WITHOUT WINGS. 153

 

“Did you see him ?” asked the lawyer, as Martin
took a proffered chair.

‘‘T saw him,”’ was replied.

“Can you make any thing out of him ?”

“[ think so. He fights a little hard; but the
odds are against him.”

“ How much did you ask him to loan you?”

“Ten thousand ?””’

“Martin! That’s cutting a little too sharp.”

“Not a bit. He'll never miss such a trifle.”

“You can’t bleed him that deep,” said the lawyer.

“Can’t 1? You'll see; I could get twenty thou-
sand. But I’m disposed to be generous. Ten
thousand I must and will have.”

And the man laughed in a low, self-satisfied, si-
nister chuckle.

«“ He’s able enough,” remarked Grind.

“So you have told me. And if he is able, he
must pay. I helped him to a fortune, and it is but
fair that he should help me a little, now that a for-
= is in my grasp. I only want the money as @
oan.”

“ Wouldn’t five thousand answer your purpose ?”’
asked the lawyer. ‘That is a large sum. It is not
a very easy matter for even a rich man, who is en-
gaged heavily in business, to lay down ten thousand
dollars at call.”

“ Five thousand will not do, Mr. Grind.”

“ Jasper has lost, to my certain knowledge, twenty
thousand dollars in three months.”

“¢So much ?”

- “At least that sum. Money came in so fast, that
he grew a little wild in his speculations, and played