J. J. Bell

“ No need to turn ghastly, man! I'll go if you like.”
“I'm all right,” said Lismore, getting up. “Don't know why I got so scared. Some one come to the wrong house, I expect.” He left the room, closing the door after him.
Lightly and swiftly Stormont crossed the floor and noiselessly opened the door an inch. Presently he heard a key turned harshly, and next moment Lismore's voice risen high with astonishment:
“Lottie! What's wrong? What brings you this time of night?”
Promptly, clearly, Lottie replied: “Father, I want my five thousand dollars.” ”

“ Only I don't want such a job again. To convert a three into a one and so forth, without showing one's handiwork, is not easy. Only Rufus's heavy, sprawling handwriting made it not impossible.”
“A masterpiece!” Lismore exclaimed. ”

“ It's a pity we can't bag the entire forty thousand ounces, but all the same, to have reduced Grant's share from thirty thousand to ten thousand, and raised our own shares from five thousand to fifteen thousand was not a bad day's work. ”