“How do you do it?” “Just look at that!” Bill Slocum drew from his pocket a roll of bills, and held it up for his companion to see. It was a thick roll, and amounted to a fair sum, even if the denominations were small. “How’d you get all that?” asked Barclay. “There’s more where they come from,” answered Slocum. “Are there any for me?” asked Barclay, eagerly. “Yes, if I introduce you.” “You’ll do it, Slocum, won’t you?” “Yes, if you want me to. But, first, a word in your ear.” He rose from his seat, and withdrew to a place where he would not be heard. “They’re flimsies,” he said, briefly. “Oh!” ejaculated Barclay, looking a trifle disappointed. He understood that they were not genuine bills, but counterfeit. “Well, and what if they are?” said Slocum, reading his expression. “There’s a risk about it.” “Nothin’ venture, nothin’ have, as my old grandmother used to say. Just be foxy, and you won’t get caught. I’m making a good living off of it, myself.” “What commission do you get for passing them?” “Fifty cents on a dollar. That’s liberal, isn’t it?” “Yes, that is liberal,” Barclay admitted. “Have you made anything today?” “Have I? Well, I reckon I have.” “How much?” “I’ve passed a ten and a five.” “And that gives you seven and a half for your share?” “Right you are, Barclay. Your knowledge of arithmetic does credit to your education. It’s plain your respected parent took great pains with your trainin’.” “My respected parent,” repeated Barclay, frowning, “is about the meanest old skinflint you’ll find within a hundred miles. I found him out yesterday, and let him know that I was going to call again today, to raise a loan, but when I called the old fox was gone bag and baggage.” “A shabby way to treat his offspring. I pity you, Jim. So you are left to the tender mercies of the world.” “I don’t find ’em very tender,” growled Barclay. “Do you see that?” and he drew from his pocket about forty cents in change. “Yes, but it doesn’t dazzle me.” “It’s all the money I have in the world.” “Then you’d better join me.” Barclay hesitated. “I don’t quite like it. I don’t care about going up the river again too soon.” “You needn’t, if you are careful. I’ll give you a few points. If one of your bills is found out, you are at once searched to see if you have any more.” “There’s the danger.” “So there is, but you can guard against it. When I am preparing to offer a bill, I put a number of good bills in my vest pocket, where they will be certain to be found at once. The other counterfeits I put in a secret inside pocket where they are not likely to be discovered. Then when it is found that all the other bills are good, I say that some rascal must have passed the bad bill on me, taking advantage of my innocence and ignorance of the world.” This seemed to Barclay an excellent joke, and he laughed long and loud. “Excuse me, Bill, but you don’t look it.” “I can when it’s necessary.”