"Never!" exclaimed Peter.
"I am going to quit, I tell you, Peter."
"How much do you want to go away from here?" asked Peter, rubbing and squinting.
"Ten thousand," replied Jim Dalls, slowly.
"You are cheap," said Peter. "Come around tomorrow, when I will pay you and furnish a ticket for you to Europe."
"Agreed, Peter! Shake! I always knew you'd be on the square with me. But put it down in writing," returned Dalls, with less gloom pictured in his face than when he entered.
"I never put anything down in writing, Jim; particularly such things as we have been discussing. I consider my word good, Jim," answered Peter, palaveringly.
"I'll take you at your word, then, Peter."
"Very well; you have been a good lieutenant, Jim, and we don't like to lose you. But if you have scruples on the matter, Jim, I want you to leave—get out of the country, and stay out till I call you back. Jim, do you understand?"
"Just so I get the cash, I'll go anywhere, Peter," answered Jim Dalls.