"O, Colonel, the wasting grind and grief of poverty! If we could realize

immediately. I don't mean sell it all, but sell part--enough, you know,

to--"

See how you tremble with excitement. That comes of lack of experience.

My boy, when you have been familiar with vast operations as long as I

have, you'll be different. Look at me; is my eye dilated? do you notice

a quiver anywhere? Feel my pulse: plunk-plunk-plunk--same as if I were

asleep. And yet, what is passing through my calm cold mind? A

procession of figures which would make a financial novice drunk just the

sight of them. Now it is by keeping cool, and looking at a thing all

around, that a man sees what's really in it, and saves himself from the

novice's unfailing mistake--the one you've just suggested--eagerness to

realize. Listen to me. Your idea is to sell a part of him for ready

cash. Now mine is--guess."

I haven't an idea. What is it?"

Stock him--of course."

Well, I should never have thought of that."

Because you are not a financier. Say he has committed a thousand

crimes. Certainly that's a low estimate. By the look of him, even in

his unfinished condition, he has committed all of a million. But call it

only a thousand to be perfectly safe; five thousand reward, multiplied by

212

The American Claimant