one coward feels for another. "Your operations out there were spread
over ten thousand acres of ground; and it would take a dozen experts
six months, without any books or papers to guide them, to make even
an approximate estimate of your legitimate expenditures."

"I don't know," hesitated Collaton with a shake of his head--"I only
touched the high places in the actual work out there. I believe I
was a sucker at that, Gresham. If I had buckled down to it, like
Gamble does, we could have made a fortune out of that scheme. He's a
wonder!"

"He has wonderful luck," corrected Gresham. "I tried my best to
scare Courtney away from him with that attachment, but he insisted
on clinging to his Johnny Gamble; so we'll hand him enough of Johnny
by laying a fifty-thousand-dollar attachment against his property."

"You're a funny cuss," said Collaton, puzzled. "If you wanted to
soak him for this fifty thousand why did you try to scare Courtney
off?"

"Can't you understand that I'm not after the money?" demanded
Gresham. "I've explained that to you before. I want Gamble broke,
discredited, and so involved that he can never transact any business
in New York."

"What's he done to you?" inquired Collaton. "He must be winning a
stand-in with your girl."

"My private affairs are none of your concern!" Gresham indignantly
flared.