“Quick, gentlemen,” cautioned Lake, with a glance at the clock. “I’ve tendered the money in time, but I’ll feel a little more comfortable when I have the rest of the needed stock.”
Like one in a dream the colonel leaned over the table and watched the transaction.
“Do—do you want to sell some of that stock?” he asked at last.
“No,” replied Lake; “I don’t want to sell some of it; I want to sell all of it.”
“We don’t need all of it,” said the colonel.
“Well, I’ll tell you what I’ll do,” returned Lake magnanimously. “I’ll sell you all or any part of it for fifty thousand dollars.”
“On the basis of fifty thousand for your entire holdings?” asked the colonel.
“No; at the set price of fifty thousand for whatever you take.”
“Too much,” said the colonel.
“As you please,” said Lake carelessly. “The price of the control of the Bington road goes up one thousand dollars a day. It’s dirt cheap at fifty thousand now, but, of course, if you don’t need it, Colonel, the bargain price doesn’t interest you.”