"Proud to know you, colonel," said Travers, clasping the hand of his new acquaintance warmly.
"What is your name?" asked Johnson.
"Thomas Travers."
"I am glad to know you, Mr. Travers," said the colonel. "Let me drop you a hint. There's more money where that came from."
"You couldn't lend me any more, could you?" asked Travers eagerly.
"Well, not exactly lend, Mr. Travers, but perhaps we can enter into a little business arrangement."
"All right, colonel," said Travers briskly. "I'm out of business. Fact is, I've been in seclusion lately—confined to the house in fact, and haven't been able to earn anything."
"Just so. Suppose we take a walk in yonder field, and I will tell you what I have in view."
They got over a fence, and walked slowly along a path that led a quarter of a mile farther on into the woods.
Here they sat down under a tree, and Colonel Johnson, producing a couple of cigars and a match, said: