"I suppose so"
"And if this Wardell didn't know enough to protect himself, that wasn't my fault; was it?"
"Perhaps not."
"He ought to have more sense."
"Perhaps. Still I feel sorry for him."
"Wa'al, I don't! He brought it on himself. Ha! ha! I won't forget how he begged me to hold off, and not close him out! Ha! ha!" and Uncle Ezra laughed heartily, in a sort of rasping chuckle. "I told him I wasn't no philanthropist, and he went away mighty mad, I reckon.
"But I'm not in business for my health. The funny part of it is, Mortimer, that even now, if Wardell only knowed enough, he could get back his fortune?"
"He could? How?" asked Mr. Hamilton, eagerly.
"Wa'al, I wouldn't tell everybody, but I know it will be safe with you. You see, when he got that big loan off me, to do what he calls speculatin', he gave me as security for the money some stock in that Western railroad—that California branch you know. Citrous Junction, I believe it's called."
"Yes," assented Mr. Hamilton.