“See here, Shallock,” spoke the other sharply, “I’ve got just one last warning to give you. Produce one hundred dollars, and get it quick, or I’ll close down on you bag and baggage.”
Shallock began to snivel in a maudlin way. He had been drinking, and he began to deplore his unhappy lot. He was an unfortunate target of fate. He had lost his job. His grocery credit had been stopped only that day, and he had been obliged to sell some of his wife’s jewelry to buy food for the family.
“Not food, but drink for yourself, you mean,” derided the stranger testily. “Now then, I’m tired of waiting for that money. I loaned it to you on a promise of repayment due months ago.”
“I can’t pay when I haven’t got it, can I?” demurred Shallock.
“You can get money out of Jasper Saxton.”
“Ha! yes—yes, indeed,” spurted up Shallock eagerly. “Say, that’s just what I’m working on. Honestly, if you’ll consent not to trouble me for a week, I’ll not only have the best job in the Saxton machine shops, but a lot of ready cash besides.”
“I don’t know that,” remarked the stranger.
“Yes, you do,” disputed Shallock. “You know that Saxton has got to fix me out right, or lose a fortune.”
“I’d like to see some of your boasted fortune right now,” sneered the man.
“Oh, it’s coming. Don’t press me too hard, and make me spoil the whole business. You shall have double interest. I’ll promise you faithfully to settle the whole business in a month. See here, you can’t possibly lose. Why, if I failed you, all you’ve got to do is to take that security of mine and go to Saxton with it.”