"You'll have to pass that little pleasure this time." said the other with a laugh. "Write your check, Whitley and let's get out of this. I'm sleepy." When Whitley reached his room after settling with the two gamblers, he found Frank pacing the floor, his face white and haggard. "Sit down. Sit down, old man; and take things easy. You're all right. Look here." And he drew the notes from his pocket. Frank sank into a chair. "What have you done?" he gasped. "How did you get those?" Whitley laughed. "Just invested a little of my spare cash, that's all," he said. "But I tell you I'm ruined. I can't pay a third of that in six years." "Well, perhaps you won't have to." Frank stared. "What do you mean?" "I mean Amy," the other replied coolly. "You poor idiot, can't you see. I can't afford to have you disgraced before the world under the circumstances. If I wasn't in it, I'd let you go to thunder and serve you right. But a fine chance I'd have to marry your sister if she knew about this business tonight. If it wasn't for her I'd let you hang your fool self too quick, before I'd spend a dollar on your worthless carcass; but I've said that I would marry that girl and I will, if it costs every cent I've got, and you'll help me too." Frank was silent for a time, completely cowed by the contempt in the other's voice, too frightened to protest. But at last he managed to say: "There's more than those notes." "I know that too," quickly returned Whitley, with an oath. "How much did you steal from the old man's safe tonight?" "What--How--How do you know?" stammered the other. "Saw you," returned Whitley, shortly; and then added, as Frank rose to his feet and began walking the floor again. "Oh, for Heaven's sake quit your tragedy and sit down. You make me tired. You're not cut out for either a gambler or a robber. You haven't the nerve." Frank was silent, while the other went to a small cupboard and leisurely helped himself to a glass of whiskey; then lit a fresh cigar. "What can I do?" ventured Frank at last, in a voice but little above a whisper. Jim crossed the room, and unlocking a drawer in his desk, returned with a handful of bills. "You can put that money back in the safe before morning and keep your mouth shut." And then when Frank attempted to grasp his hand, while stammering words of gratitude, he said, "No thanks," and put his own hands behind his back in a gesture that there was no mistaking. "Be a good boy, Frankie. Listen with more care to your pastor's sermons; keep your Young People's Society pledge; read your Bible and pray every day, and take part in all the meetings, and when I marry your sister I'll make you a present of these papers. But Oh Lord," he added, with a groan, "you'll make a healthy brother-in-law, you will." "How much did you say?" Frank muttered the amount he had stolen.