"And what are the three bondholders you represent worth?" Pat inquired, in a nettled tone.
"Half a million each, or more."
Carrigan's brows rose contemptuously.
"Is that all?" he exclaimed. "Why, from the way you talked, I thought they were real financiers! And they're only piffling tin-horns, after all. What d'you know about that, Lee?" Pat turned to the engineer with an amazed air.
Gretzinger's anger surged up anew.
"You never saw half a million in your life," he sneered.
"I could buy out all three of them with what I have in one trust company in Chicago alone," was the unperturbed reply. "It's cheap sports like you that make a real man sick. How much for the bonds? You want to unload. Speak up; how much?"
Despite his anger, the other's brain perceived that the contractor was in earnest.
"The amount of the face of both bonds and stock, with interest on the former to date," he answered quickly.
"I buy only bargains," was Carrigan's dry statement.