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