Page:Melville Davisson Post--The Man of Last Resort.djvu/98

74 the ceiling with placid indifference. He had turned Hergan into his own channel, and the transaction being assured, it was now the part of wisdom to affect gravity. Presently he spoke, slowly and anxiously: “That's a powerful big wad of money. Still, me and Martin” Here he stopped short and turned to his companion.

“Powerful big,” echoed the mine owner, and volunteered no further observation. He understood First Class Crawley as few men are understood, and such observations were quite useless between them, except for the effect upon the victim at hand.

“Still,” continued the proprietor of the Emporium, “I expect we can raise it some way. About what terms do you allow on?”

“I guess thirty days will be long enough,” responded Hergan. “Thirty days at twelve per cent. is how I have been figuring it.”

“Yes,” drawled the gambling king, the security?”

“Well,” said the Secretary of State, “I have calculated to give the Governor and Culverson.”