"Fifty thousand," said Gresham, and glanced darkly at Gamble.

Miss Joy interrupted with a laugh. Gresham looked at her
inquiringly, but he did not ask her the joke. She volunteered an
explanation, however.

"I'm just framing a definition of business ethics," she stated; "but
really I don't see the difference between yours and Mr. Gamble's."

"Business ethics consists in finding a man who has some money, and
hitting him behind the ear with a sand-bag," explained the colonel.
"Even your price is a holdup, Gresham; but I think I can buy it for
less when the time comes--if I want it."

"You'll have four months to make up your mind," said Gamble with a
triumphant look at Constance.

"I thought your option was for only thirty days."

"It's renewable three times."

"Bless my soul!" shouted the colonel. "That puts an entirely
different face upon the matter. If you don't want too much money for
it, Gamble, I don't mind confessing that I'd like to build an
extension to my factory on that property. Now that my defenses are
down, soak me."

"I couldn't refuse a little thing like that. I'll soak you all I
can. I said fifty-five thou-sand, you know."