"Say, by the by, Monroe; I received this today from Europe. Read it," said Peter, handing Monroe a letter, which had the following P. S. at the end: "I have lost fifteen at Monte Carlo; send ten, or I will return at once. (Signed) J. D." "Does he mean fifteen thousand and ten thousand?" asked Monroe. "He does." "What will you do?" "Send for Jacob Cobb." "What will he do?" "Furnish the money, of course." "Jim Dalls is bleeding you for all the game is worth," said Monroe. "We can do nothing else till we cease bleeding other people." "You are plain about it, Peter." "I am always plain, Monroe." "Have you seen Cobb lately?" asked Monroe. "Yesterday." "How're things coming?" "They're coming for the present," answered Peter. "Don't you think I need them coming to keep up this establishment when I am fully in the swim?" "You probably do, Peter. I will run opposition to you when I get what's coming to me." "Be sure you don't get into the Pen, Monroe," said Peter, looking up sidewise at Monroe, with a strange meaning in his eyes. "And you?" asked Monroe. "Oh, they can't get me; too much pull with the--" Just then a howling brat, in silks and satins, came tearing into the room, riding a brass curtain pole as his "horse." On seeing a stranger, the youngster promptly made a flail out of the said curtain pole, and began to belabor Peter over the head with such effectiveness that Peter caught the child by the seat of his breeches, and hurled him blubbering into a corner. "I thought you enjoyed your new existence," humorously remarked the staid Monroe. "I do," answered the angered Peter, with a "humph." "Well, if that is an example of what married life is, I don't think I want any of it in mine," said Monroe, with some dejection in the curl of his lips. "Don't be so easily discouraged, Monroe; I've got ten like that one, on whom I spend my time in reforming." "Oh, Lordy!" exclaimed the placid Monroe. "Yes; it is Lordy sometimes, you would think, if you were here when they are all in." "Why, I'd soon be in an asylum," said Monroe, despairingly. "Say, Monroe, I've put Eli Jerey in my office," said Peter, changing the subject. "He deserves promotion, no doubt; can he be trusted?" "None more so; that's why I put him there. I'll give him the store when we pull off the next big deal." "Will she go through?" asked Monroe. "She will." "How much?" "One hundred thousand; then I'll quit." "And we poor devils will have to take the crumbs," said the disheartened Monroe. "Every one is paid according to his services," said Peter, in reply. "Get Winthrope out of the way, get the girl, and you'll have yours." Monroe departed, feeling better. CHAPTER XIX. WHILE THE FATHER WORRIES, MONROE SCHEMES AND CELEBRATES. "Mr. Winthrope," said Mr. Jarney, abstractedly, pacing his office floor, with his hands behind his back, and his head bowed in commiseration, "my daughter is getting no better--no better."