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t late," said Stark, with a smile. "Yes." "That is, late for Milford. In the city I never go to bed before midnight." "Have you been out walking?" "Yes." "You found it rather dark, did you not?" "It is dark as a pocket." "You couldn't have found the walk a very pleasant one." "You are right, my friend; but I didn't walk for pleasure. The fact is, I am rather worried about a business matter. I have learned that I am threatened with a heavy loss--an unwise investment in the West--and I wanted time to think it over and decide how to act." "I see," answered the clerk, respectfully, for Stark's words led him to think that his guest was a man of wealth. "I wish I was rich enough to be worried by such a cause," he said, jokingly. "I wish you were. Some time I may be able to throw something in your way." "Do you think it would pay me to go to the West?" asked the clerk, eagerly. "I think it quite likely--if you know some one out in that section." "But I don't know anyone." "You know me," said Stark, significantly. "Do you think you could help me to a place, Mr. Stark?" "I think I could. A month from now write to me Col. Philip Stark, at Denver, Colorado, and I will see if I can find an opening for you." "You are very kind, Mr.--I mean Col. Stark," said the clerk, gratefully. "Oh, never mind about the title," returned Stark, smiling good-naturedly. "I only gave it to you just now, because everybody in Denver knows me as a colonel, and I am afraid a letter otherwise addressed would not reach me. By the way, I am sorry that I shall probably have to leave you to-morrow." "So soon?" "Yes; it's this tiresome business. I should not wonder if I might lose ten thousand dollars through the folly of my agent. I shall probably have to go out to right things." "I couldn't afford to lose ten thousand dollars," said the young man, regarding the capitalist before him with deference. "No, I expect not. At your age I wasn't worth ten thousand cents. Now--but that's neither here nor there. Give me a light, please, and I will go up to bed." "He was about to say how much he is worth now," soliloquized the clerk. "I wish he had not stopped short. If I can't be rich myself, I like to talk with a rich man. There's hope for me, surely. He says that at my age he was not worth ten thousand cents. That is only a hundred dollars, and I am worth that. I must keep it to pay my expenses to Colorado, if
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