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"An' besides that, you know nobody ever has got a court judgment off'n me, an' Perry Northcutt ain't got no better show than nobody else; so, since he kain't collect his debt till I'm good an' ready to pay it, it simply shows I'm one of the solidest institutions in Lane County, don't it?"

"Well, ye-es," dragged out Sandage, "it does look that way. So you don't consider your business the least bit shaky?"

"Firm as a rock, Jim, firm as a rock! An' if you want yore money back, jest ast for it. You can git it right now or any other time. I wouldn't give you a uneasy minute." Here Mr. Jones reached, one might say boisterously, after a pad of checks, got out a fountain pen, and pushed them toward the trustee. "Jest write out what I owe you an' I'll jest pay you off now!"

The trustee retreated from this sudden threat of payment.

"Oh, no, no, Mr. Jones, I jest wanted to talk it over with you! Lord knows, I kain't put my money out at eight per cent. with nobody but you. I want you to keep it!"

"Well, all right, but I don't want you to be uneasy about it."

"No, I won't be, an' much obliged for your advice, Mr. Jones."

"Not a-tall, Jim, not a-tall, an' Jess come to me any time an' spit yore mind right out if you want to know anything."

"I shore am much obliged," repeated the trustee.

At that moment the door was darkened and Abner turned to see Mr. Ditmas, the engineer, standing in the entrance. The Northern man glanced at Abner in surprise, and then at Railroad Jones.

"Why, you did find him for me after all, Mr. Jones!" he cried.

"Yes, yes," nodded the magnate. "I got him to the office for you."

"That's fine—Abner, I've been combing three counties looking for you."

The youth stared at the engineer blankly. "What for?"