"But the experiment, sir," added the man, emphatically, "has
proved a failure. I heard yesterday, that both mill and distillery
were to be shut up, and offered for sale."

"They did not prove as money-making as was anticipated?"

"No, not under Willy Hammond's management. He had made too many
bad acquaintances--men who clung to him because he had plenty of
money at his command, and spent it as freely as water. One-half of
his time he was away from the mill, and while there, didn't half
attend to business. I've heard it said--and I don't much doubt its
truth--that he's squandered his twenty thousand dollars, and a
great deal more besides."

"How is that possible?"

"Well; people talk, and not always at random. There's been a man
staying here, most of his time, for the last four or five years,
named Green. He does not do anything, and don't seem to have any
friends in the neighborhood. Nobody knows where he came from, and
he is not at all communicative on that head himself. Well, this
man became acquainted with young Hammond after Willy got to
visiting the bar here, and attached himself to him at once. They
have, to all appearance, been fast friends ever since; riding
about, or going off on gunning or fishing excursions almost every
day, and secluding themselves somewhere nearly every evening. That
man, Green, sir, it is whispered, is a gambler; and I believe it.
Granted, and there is no longer a mystery as to what Willy does
with his own and his father's money."