Gilmore merely grinned at this.

"If you are trying to encourage me to smash you, Marsh, you have got the
right idea as to how it is to be done." But his tone was now one of lazy
good nature.

"Smash me then; I haven't the money to pay you."

"Get it!" said Gilmore tersely.

"Where?"

"You are asking too much of me, Marsh. If I could finance you I'd cut
out cards in the future. How about the judge,--no? Well, I just threw
that out as a hint, but I suppose you have been there already, for
naturally you'd compliment him by giving him the chance to pull you up
out of your troubles. Since your own father won't help you, how about
Linscott? Is he going to want to see his son-in-law disgraced? I guess
he's your best chance, Marsh. Put it on strong and for once tell the
truth. Tell him you've dabbled in forgery and that it won't work!"

Langham had dropped back in his chair. He was seeking to devise some
expedient that would meet his present difficulties. His bondage to the
gambler had become intolerable, anything would be better than a
continuance of that. The monstrous folly of those forgeries seemed
beyond anything he could have perpetrated in his sober senses. He must
have been mad! But then he had needed the money desperately.

He might go to his, father, but he had been to him only recently, and