"You don't? Oh! I say, Gardiner——" and he burst into laughter, which Gardiner apparently did not resent.
"Yes, I know I'm a newspaper dog, and so on; let that be. If I chose to crawl down and go East, I could stack dollar for dollar with half of you in time. What I'm telling you is this: I think Gawthrop has more show than you, and I'd be glad to get him out of the way, just as he'd no doubt be glad to get you out. I'll help if you'll hold your tongue about me, whatever happens."
"Very well," said Hunt; "I give you my word."
"Whatever happens?"
"Whatever happens."
"Of course I shall do everything I can to win."
"That's only natural," said Hunt; "but I'll bet you a thousand dollars that if I get Gawthrop out of the way I'll marry Miss Atherton inside of three months."
"Whatever happens?"
"Whatever happens."
"Then I take that bet," said Gardiner, "and to-morrow you shall meet Shanghai."