Gradually, difficulties gathered around Grasper so thickly, that he
found it almost impossible to keep his head above water. Two thirds
of his time were spent in efforts to raise money to meet his
payments, and the other third in brooding sadly and inactively over
the embarrassed condition of his affairs. This being the case, his
business suffered inevitably. Instead of going on and making
handsome profits, as he had once done, he was actually losing money,
and that, too, rapidly; for, when he bought, he often made imprudent
purchases, and when he sold, he made three bad debts where he
formerly made one.

At last, a crisis came in his affairs, as come it must, sooner or
later, under such a system. A stoppage and ruin he saw to be
inevitable. He owed more borrowed money than he could possibly
return within the time for which he had obtained it, and had,
besides, large payments to make in bank within the period. Any
effort to get through, he saw would be hopeless, and he determined
to give up; not, however, without securing something for himself.

"Twenty cents less in the dollar for my creditors," he argued, "will
not kill them, and that difference will be quite important to me.
When the storm blows over, it will give me the means of hoisting
sail again."

At this time, Grasper owed Layton two thousand dollars borrowed
money, and two thousand dollars in notes of hand, given for goods
purchased of him.

"It won't do," he said to himself, "to let _him_ lose any thing. I