160 TRUE RICHES; OR,

 

‘Ten thousand dollars !’’ ejaculated the merchant.
“Why, it’s downright robbery! He might just as
well stop me on the highway.”’

‘“‘Tt’s a hard case, [ must own, Mr. Jasper. You
might resist him, and, at least not let him obtain
what he demands without a struggle; but the ques-
tion is, may you not receive a mortal wound in the
contest.”

“Ah! that is the rub, Grind. Rather than
meet the exposure he could make, I would give
twenty thousand dollars; yea, half, if not all I am
worth.”

Can wealth, held on such a tenure, and in such
a state of mind, be called riches? Ah, no. How
the possession is changed from a blessing into a
curse |

‘hen, Mr. Jasper,” replied the lawyer, ‘there
is but one course plain before you. If you make
this man your enemy, he will surely pursue you to
the death. There is no pity in him.”

Jasper groaned aloud. Ere he could reply, the
door of the office opened, and the individual about
whom they were conversing entered. With the skill
of practised actors, each instantly assumed a part,
and hid, under a false exterior, their true states of
mind. With something of cordiality each greeted
the other; while side-glances, unobserved by Jas-
per, passed rapidly between Martin and the lawyer.
A few commonplace inquiries and remarks followed,
when Jasper made a movement to go, saying, as he
did so—

‘Mr. Martin, I will be pleased to see you some
time to-day.”