"Upon my soul, this is a most extraordinary thing!" exclaimed
Eugene, looking about him in amazement. "Why, the whole blooming
family is here, even Tommy. I say, Tommy, it's perfectly imbecile,
with all due respect to you, to prefer that little beggar with the
white star."

"I'll back him for a hundred pounds before any official committee,"
indignantly quavered Tommy, feeling in all the wrong pockets for his
betting-book.

"Gentlemen," interposed Johnny most crudely indeed, "I am here to
repeat my offer of three million dollars, cash, for your Bronx
property; one-half million dollars to-day, one million dollars next
Saturday, May twentieth, and the remaining million and a half the
following Saturday, May twenty-seventh, title to remain vested in
you until the entire amount is paid. Just to show that I mean
business I have brought each of you a certified check for one
hundred thousand dollars." And he distributed them like diplomas to
a class.

Tommy Wobbles, startled to find his toupee on straight, examined his
check with much doubt. "I say, you know," he expostulated, "this
can't be quite regular!"

"Why not?" inquired Johnny.

"Well--er--it's so very precipitate," responded Tommy, putting the
check in his pocket and taking it out again and folding and
unfolding it with uncertain fingers. "No time for deliberation and