John Habberton

“ Tom had learned that friendship seldom prompts one man to share his business with another except for quite as much as a stranger could be compelled to pay; business men were not made that way. Some one might be good-natured enough to give him a clerkship that would enable him to seem to be doing something; but he had no intention of parading with New York's army of well-born incompetents. All that seemed left for him was to knock about the West, with the hope of again making something in mining or ranching, but by the time he could hope to succeed he and Ettie would have gray hair ”

“ There was no business, at the time, at which a man with a good head for figures could see more certain profit than in cattle-raising on a ranch. Several young swells whom Tom knew had gone West with small capital, remained on ranches three or four years, visiting New York each season, and finally returning with small fortunes. What man had done, man could do. ”

“ Though our last communication with each other was not entirely devoid of bad feeling, I know you for an honest man, and I therefore take the liberty of consulting you about a matter of business in which there may be something to our mutual advantage. For some years I have been interested in the Double Row Ranch, and recently I have become sole proprietor. The amount of capital is greater than any man should allow to remain invested in property which from time to time varies in value, and to which he is unable to give his personal attention. ”

“ She's a good little thing, and all the shrewd girls that don't want to marry into the clergy will advise her to take him, so as to have one less rival for themselves in the open field. If he does get her, and doesn't make her happy, I'll play the part of big brother and make him wish he'd never been born—hang his insignificant sanctimonious soul! ”

“ Within a week Broker Bloggs was forty thousand dollars ahead, and Tom was wiped out of the street. Worse still, everybody knew it; losers have no confidences that brokers are bound to respect, so Tom was chaffed at the club and stared at in a pitying way in society. ”

“ He was born handsome and wealthy, and the family money had lasted until Tom was educated and fairly launched in good society. Just as he was about to enter the business world, however, the bottom came out of the family barrel—Tom's father knocked it out with some indorsements, which not only impoverished the old man, but sent him insolvent to the grave. ”

“ Would that her father might speculate, indorse for irresponsible friends—do anything, so that he might lose his money, and a poor man could honorably woo the daughter! Tom was half-disposed to offer himself then and there, and ask the girl to wait for him, but he controlled himself; he admitted that there were other men as good as he, and that it would be better—for Ettie—to marry one of them than to wait years for a man who had his fortune to make ”

“ The minister rubbed his hands after the manner of the stage clergyman, and the old smiling grin—or grinning smile—came into his face, and Tom abruptly departed, telling himself that he wondered if that little rascal had captured Ettie Raytham after all and had waived the excess as conscience-money. Tom ground his teeth and told himself there was one way of finding out. He looked at his watch ”

“ Five thousand dollars, added to the income which he had left untouched for many months, amounted to nearly twice five, and he had often heard brokers who belonged to his club say that with ten thousand dollars clear any man with his brains in his head and a grip on his nerves was sure sooner or later to make a big strike in Wall Street. ”

“ It was an abrupt proposition to make to a gentleman with whom my acquaintance was so slight, and I was greatly relieved in mind when I learned you had accepted it—greatly relieved. Mayn't I offer you some refreshment—no? I would like to suggest—but never mind ”

“ I do not know the present value of the herd and the range privileges, but I shall be glad to get thirty thousand dollars for everything. On this amount I will pay you a commission of ten per cent; should you succeed in getting a higher price, you are quite welcome to retain all in excess of above-named sum. ”