"Very likely," said Mr. Courtney. "He seems to have had good luck, that's all."
"It's pretty good luck to get a thousand dollars," said Phil enviously. "Papa, will you do me a favor?"
"What is it?"
"Can't you put a thousand dollars in the bank for me, so that the boatman can't crow over me?"
"Money is very scarce with me just now, Philip," said his father. "It will do just as well to tell him you have a thousand dollars in my hands."
"I would rather have it in a bank," said Philip.
"Then you'll have to wait till it is convenient for me," said his father shortly.
It was true that money was scarce with Mr. Courtney. I have already stated that he had been speculating in Wall Street heavily, and with by no means unvarying success. In fact, the same evening he received a letter from his brother, stating that the market was so heavily against him that he must at once forward five thousand dollars to protect his margin, or the stocks carried on his account must be sold.
As Mr. Courtney was unable to meet this demand, the stocks were sold, involving a loss of ten thousand dollars.