uch matter."

"What are you doing in a bank?"

"Banking was my business, at one time."

"Thought you hadn't any business."

"I haven't had any, for some years. Now I have. How do you wish this
money? In tens and fives?"

"Yes. Nothing bigger. Down here it restricts the circulation if you
spring a twenty dollar bill on them. So you've taken to banking? I was
thinking of corraling you for a gunning trip one of these days. Now it's
all off, I suppose."

"It looks that way. Sorry I am to be deprived of the pleasure."

"Humph!" Then, with one of his sudden changes, "How big a business does
this concern do? What do your deposits amount to?"

I gave him the figures, as printed in the yearly statement. He made no
comment. Instead he observed, "You haven't been around to accept that
offer of mine yet, Paine."

"Not yet," I answered.

"Suppose I ought to raise it, now that you're a financier yourself.
However, I shan't."

"I haven't asked you to."

He smiled. "No, you haven't," he said. "Well, it is open--for a while.
If I were you I'd accept it pretty soon."

"Possibly."

"Meaning that I am not you, hey? I'm not. I haven't your high
principles, Paine. Can't afford 'em. You're what they call a
'Progressive' in politics, too, aren't you?"

"Here is your money," I said, ignoring the question.

"I'll bet you are!" he declared, taking the bills. "I never saw one of
you high-principled chaps yet that wasn't--until he got rich enough to
be something else. Progress is all right, maybe, but I notice that you
fellows pay for it and the rest of us get it. Just as I am going to get
that land of yours."

"You haven't got it yet," I said, serenely. I had made up my mind that
this time he should not provoke me into losing my temper.

He seemed to divine my determination. His eye twinkled. "You're
improving, Paine," he observed. "I'll give you a piece of advice; it has
cost me a good deal to learn, but I'll give it to you: Don't ever let
the other fellow make you mad."

I remembered our first interview and I could not resist the temptation
to retort.

"If my recollection is correct," I said, "you forgot that the first time
we met."

He laughed aloud. "So I did," he admitted. "Maybe if I hadn't it would
not cost me so much to get my own way in your case."

He walked out of the building. I heard one exclamation from behind and,
turning, saw Sam Wheeler, my youthful assistant, staring at me.

"My--gosh!" exclaimed S