"You know I'm rather in your debt; I don't suppose five hundred dollars
would square what I have had from you first and last."

"I hope you won't mention it! Whenever it is quite convenient, that will
be soon enough."

"Thank you, Jack!" said Langham gratefully. "The fact is the pickings
here are pretty small."

Again the lawyer mopped his brow and again North moved impatiently.

"Don't say another word about it, Marsh," he repeated. "McBride has
agreed to take the last of my gas bonds off my hands; that will get me
away from here."

"How many have you left?" asked Langham curiously.

"Ten," said North.

Langham whistled.

"Do you mean to tell me you are down to that? Why, you told me once you
held a hundred!"

"So I did once, but it costs money to be the kind of fool I've been!
said North.

"Well, I suppose you are doing the sensible thing in getting out of
this. Have you any notion where you are going or what you'll do?"