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"Well, he's been damaged!" cried the trustee. "They ain't done him right down there, an' somebody ort to pay him fur it."

"Well, Jim, you know the criminal law very seldom applies to individuals an' never does apply to crowds. Abner there will find out if he wants to do business in a big way he'd better keep his private affairs straight an' above board; otherwise some competitor will bushwhack him an' claim he done it for private reasons. That's what morality is, Jim, livin' so if anybody bushwhacks you, ever'body will know it was fur business reasons."

During an impressive pause, Mr. Sandage would have been more than a human father had he not turned on his foster-son and sought to impress this great and valuable moral.

"Now, you hear what Mr. Jones says, Abner. It shore is worth while listenin' to a man who has made a success like he has—live so when you git killed ever'body will know it was a business deal. Well, we're much obliged for your advice."

"Not a-tall," nodded the magnate solemnly.

"An' by the way, Mr. Jones, may I ast one more question? I've been hearin' that Perry Northcutt is goin' to sue you on some loans he made you."

The magnate nodded. "I don't want it talked, but I b'l'eve he is."

"In that case—now I hope you won't take no offence, but—er—it makes me a little juberous about the county funds I loaned you."

"You needn't be a-tall uneasy, Jim," soothed the magnate with a gesture, "he's suin' merely because I overdrawed the security I give him."

"Yeh," agreed the trustee vaguely.

"Well, if a careful financial institution like the bank thinks they can make their debt by a suit outside the mortgages I give 'em, that shows I must have a lot of resources, don't it? It shows I'm solid, all right."

"Well—yeh, I reckon it does," admitted Sandage, who did not follow this very clearly.