"Mars Joe, he ain't right well dis evenin'," he said, evasively, but when Sherman persisted he was ushered into a back room where sat the redoubtable captain, all the fierceness of his burnside whiskers, the austerity of his West Point manner, melted in the indignity of sneezes and wheezes. Sherman looked at him in frank dismay. "Heavens, man," he said, "I'm sorry to intrude on you in this condition ... but my errand won't wait...." "What do you want, Bill Sherman?" the sick man glowered. "Money," Sherman answered crisply. "You know, perhaps, that Page, Bacon & Co. have failed. Everyone's afraid of his deposits. We've got to have cash tomorrow. How about your--?" With a cry of irritation Folsom threw up his hands. "Money! God Almighty! Sherman, there's not a loose dollar in town. My agent, Van Winkle, has walked his legs off, talked himself hoarse.... He can't get anything. It's impossible." "Then you can do nothing?" For answer Folsom broke into a torrent of sneezes and coughs. The old negro came running. Sherman shook his head and left the room. There remained Major Hammond, collector of the port, two of whose notes the bank held. He and Sherman were not over-friendly; yet Hammond must be asked. Sherman made his way to the customs house briskly, stated his business to the doorkeeper and sat down in an anteroom to await Hammond's pleasure. There he cooled his heels for a considerable period before he was summoned to an inner office. "Well, Sherman," he asked, not ungraciously, "what can I do for you?" "You can take up one of your notes with our bank," replied Sherman, without ado. "We need cash desperately." "'Fraid of a run, eh?" "Not afraid, no. But preparing for it." The other nodded his approval. "Quite right! quite right!" he said with unexpected warmth.... "So you'd like me to cash one of my notes, Mr. Sherman?" "Why, yes, sir, if it wouldn't inconvenience you," the banker answered, "it would aid us greatly." He looked into the collector's keen, inquiring eyes, then added: "I may as well say quite frankly, Mr. Hammond, you're our last resort." "Then why"--the other's smile was whimsical--"then why not both of my notes?" [Illustration: There sat the redoubtable captain, all the ... austerity of his West Point manner melted in the indignity of sneezes and wheezes.... "Money! God Almighty! Sherman, there's not a loose dollar in town."] "Do you mean it?" Sherman asked breathlessly. By way of answer Hammond drew a book of printed forms toward him. Calmly, leisurely, he wrote several lines; tore a long, narrow strip from the book and handed it to Sherman. "Here's my check for $40,000 on the United States Treasurer. He will cash it in gold. Never mind, don't thank me, this is purely business. I know what's up, young man. I can't see your people go under. Good day!" * * * * *