course, pay it."

"As quickly as he can find a fountain-pen and a check-book."

"I wish to loan him some money without his knowledge. I want you to
take fifteen thousand dollars early to-morrow morning and pay that
attachment, or whatever it is, at his bank. Naturally I do not want
Mr. Gamble to know that I am interested; and I look to you to manage
it so that, when the money is returned to me, he shall imagine that
you have advanced the funds."

"I can arrange that easily enough," Loring promised her. "Constance,
I suppose I ought to advise you that this is silly; but I'm glad
you're doing it. Moreover, I feel certain that, if this entanglement
is straightened out, Johnny may take a new interest in the
irrigation company and, by handling it himself, may recover all his
losses."

"I sincerely hope so," returned Constance earnestly. "You know I've
taken a queer interest in this quixotic attempt of Mr. Gamble's to
make his million. It's like a fascinating game, and I almost feel as
if I were playing it myself--I'm so eager about it."

"And your spirit of fair play is aroused," Loring said.





CHAPTER VII