"Indeed they are. There are three or four suits against me. I have the writs in my pocket. It is no use to defend them, for I have no defence to make. The claims are just. If I do not get relief soon, what little I have will go into the hands of the sheriff."
"That is bad," returned Dunbar, in a voice of sympathy. "But don't give up so easily I can save your effects for you."
"How?"
"What are your goods and furniture worth?"
"A couple of thousand dollars, I suppose. My stock has got very low. The fact is, I have thought so much about this suit against Harrison, as to neglect my business. For these embarrassments I have only myself to blame. I was a fool, but couldn't help it."
"You think they would bring two thousand dollars under the hammer, if fairly sold?"
"I hardly think they would bring that under the hammer."
"A thousand or twelve hundred, then?"
"O yes; readily."
"Very well. I will lend you three hundred dollars on your note on demand. This will make me your creditor. You can then confess judgment on the note, and I will issue an execution and sell you out by the sheriff before any one else can get a judgment against you."