in the hope that, if ever another man is so unfortunate as to get in
your debt without the means of present payment, that you will be
less exacting with him than you were with me."

Grasper writhed in spirit under this cutting rebuke of Layton, which
was given seriously, but not in anger. He tried to make a great many
excuses, to none of which Layton made any reply. He had said all he
wished to say on the subject. After this, the two met
frequently--more frequently than Grasper cared about meeting the man
he had injured. Several times he alluded, indirectly, to the past,
in an apologetic way, but Layton never appeared to understand the
allusion. This was worse to Grasper than if he had come out and said
over and over again just what he thought of the other's conduct.

Five years from the day Layton commenced business anew, he made his
last dividend upon the deficit that stood against him at the time
his creditors generously released him and set him once more upon his
feet. He was doing a very good business, and had a credit much more
extensive than he cared about using. No one was more ready to sell
him than Grasper, who frequently importuned him to make bills at his
store. This he sometimes did, but made it a point never to give his
note for the purchase, always paying the cash and receiving a
discount.

"I'd as lief have your note as your money," Grasper would sometimes
say.

"I always prefer paying the cash while I have it," was generally the
answer. "In this way, I make a double profit on my sales."