“Yes. You know who he is,” Griggs answered; “the drygoods man.”
Garson in his turn showed a new excitement as he bent toward Mary.
“Why, it's old Gilder, the man you——”
Mary, however, had regained her self-control, for a moment rudely shaken, and now her voice was tranquil again as she replied:
“I know. But, just the same, it's illegal, and I won't touch it. That's all there is to it.”
Griggs was dismayed.
“But half a million!” he exclaimed, disconsolately. “There's a stake worth playing for. Think of it!” He turned pleadingly to Garson. “Half a million, Joe!”
The forger repeated the words with an inflection that was gloating.
“Half a million!”
“And it's the softest thing you ever saw.”