Johnny shook the hand with both pleasure and reluctance, and
obediently left.

"I'm offering my pet vanity parasol against a sliver of chewing-gum
on Johnny," Polly confided to Loring. "I could see it in his eye
that Mr. Courtney will be invited to help him make that million."

"Somebody ought to warn Courtney," Gresham commented sarcastically.

"Why warn him?" demanded Loring. "I'll guarantee that any
proposition Johnny makes him will be legitimate."

"No doubt," agreed Gresham. "A great many sharp practices are
considered legitimate nowadays."

"I object, also, to the term 'sharp practices'," responded Loring
warmly. "I don't believe there's a man in New York with a straighter
and cleaner record than Gamble's. Every man with whom he has ever
done business, except possibly yourself, speaks highly of him and
would trust him to any extent; and he does not owe a dollar in the
world."

"Doesn't he?" snarled Gresham. "There's an unsatisfied attachment
for fifteen thousand dollars resting against him at the Fourth
National Bank at this very moment."

Loring's indignation gave way immediately to grave concern.

"So that's why Close was trying to get him on the 'phone all