“Oh, as to that,” said Mr. Jones indifferently, “it doesn’t signify. The best of us get short sometimes, and then it is very convenient to have a friend or two who is willing to credit us. All one has to do is to get up a reputation for honesty, and then he can run his face as long as he chooses.”
“What is this plan you were speaking of?” asked Guy.
“I will tell you this evening. After supper we will go up to our room, and while we are smoking a cigar we’ll have a long, friendly talk.”
Guy did not want any supper. He could think of nothing but his debts and his companion’s friendly offer to help him out of them, and he was impatient to learn how his relief was to be accomplished, he urged Jones to reveal the secret at once, but the latter could not be prevailed upon to say more on the subject just then, and Guy was obliged to await his pleasure.
Supper over, the cigars lighted, and the door of their room closed to keep the smoke from going out into the hall where the landlady would be sure to detect it, Guy and the commercial traveler seated themselves, one in the easy chair and the other on the bed, and proceeded to discuss matters.
“In the first place,” said Mr. Jones, “in order that I may know just what to do, you must tell me how much you owe, and give me the names of those to whom you are indebted—that is, if you are perfectly willing to do so.”
“Of course I am,” returned Guy readily. “I will meet your friendly advances half-way. To begin with, there are my bills at Dutch Jake’s and the billiard saloon, amounting to thirty-two dollars and forty cents. Then I am indebted thirty dollars to Mrs. Willis, and if I may judge by the way she looks at me now and then, she would be wonderfully pleased if I would pay up.”
“Oh, she doesn’t need the money,” said Jones. “She has a little fortune of her own, and only keeps boarders for company. If she says anything to you, there are plenty of ways to put her off. Tell her that you will settle up as soon as you draw your next quarter’s salary.”
“That would be a good joke on her, wouldn’t it?” said Guy with a forced laugh. “To tell the truth,” he added, with some hesitation, “I—that is—you know Mr. Walker allows me to be my own paymaster, and I have already drawn and spent my last quarter’s salary. I shall not get a cent of money from the firm for five weeks.”
“I am overjoyed to hear it,” said Mr. Jones to himself. “Things are working better than I thought. I’ve got you in a tight corner, my lad, and all that is required is a little careful handling to get you in the way of embezzling.” Then aloud he said: “That is a very bad state of affairs, Guy. These people must be paid at once.”