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144 tagers," he said. "You can't have it, Mr. Easton."

"What! Can't have the option!" His voice expressed both astonishment and reproach.

"By no means."

"I—I'm—afraid I'm going to—to faint!" gasped Easton in a wailing voice, as he fanned himself with his hat.

"I would n't," remarked the lawyer.

"But I— Oh, this is terrible—terrible!" gasped the old man, piteously. "If I don't get that option, Mr. Jarrod, I shall be ruined—utterly ruined!"

His frail body swayed from side to side, and with eyes half shut he watched the effect of his misery upon the stern faced man seated before him.

"Quite likely," said Jarrod, yawning.

"Ruined—ruined! At my age to