“Exactly—nine millions,” nodded Bradhurst, enjoying his young acquaintance’s amazement. “So you see you saved the life of a man actually worth $11,000,000 in cash and securities. If my head had been smashed by that truck those millions would have had no further interest for me. While every man’s life is presumed to be his most precious possession, mine has more than a usual value.”
“I should think it had,” said the boy, regarding his new friend with a fresh interest.
“Under these circumstances, Thornton, you will understand that if I presented you with a couple of millions in consideration of what you have done for me I shouldn’t be doing any too much to express my gratitude, and I should still have more money on my hands than I could ever reasonably hope to spend.”
“I hope you don’t think of doing such a foolish thing as that,” said Vance, not a little disturbed at the mere idea of being presented with such an enormous sum.
Perhaps the average person would have entertained different views on the subject, but then Vance Thornton was young, and had imbibed the idea that a man ought to earn in a legitimate way all that he acquires.
He had full confidence in his own powers to accumulate a million or two within the next few years, as soon as he got well in harness.
Perhaps he was right.
Many a young man has been ruined, not only financially, but morally, by getting next to a fortune without the necessity of earning it.
Mr. Bradhurst possibly neglected to think of that side of the question, for he said, with a smile:
“Why not?”