“You’re such a damned liar, Weems, that I never believe you but I’ll swear Rumleigh isn’t paying you forty thousand dollars for that camp. It’s a good camp but if you’ve got to sell in a hurry he’ll hold you down to less than that. Be honest for once and tell me what he’s going to give.”
“Twenty-two thousand,” Weems said sullenly.
“I’ll give you twenty-five,” said Trent carelessly.
“His is a cash offer,” Weems said shaking his head, “and that’s why I’m selling so cheap.”
Trent took a roll of bills from his pocket and peeled off before Weems’ astounded eyes five and twenty thousand dollars.
“Mine is also a cash offer,” he observed.
“Come right off to my lawyer,” Weems cried springing to his feet. “Gee, and I thought you hadn’t as much money as I have.”
Thus it was that Anthony Trent came into possession of his camp. It was a beautiful place and there were improvements which he planned that would cost a lot to execute. He decided that it might be unwise to retire yet from a profession which paid him such rewards. Another year and he could lay aside his present work satisfied that financial worries need never trouble him. He admitted that many unfortunate things might happen in twelve months but he was serene in the belief that his star was in the ascendant.
CHAPTER XX
“WANTED—AN EMERALD”
Since Anthony Trent had replaced the red glass in his Benares lamp with the Mount Aubyn ruby, the other pieces of cut glass seemed so dull by comparison that had his visitors been many, suspicion must have arisen from the very difference they exhibited. The lamp was discreetly swung in a distant corner and the button which lighted the lamp carefully concealed.