"Well, then, there’s a way out. I was coming in this morning to put through that swamp-land deal. Why, you were at Kendrick’s on Sunday when I told him that he was going to accept eight hundred thousand for that land, and he hemmed and hawed, and told me to come in this morning. Of course I could see in his eye that he was going to take me up, but he was playing coy. Now I’ll make you the offer I would make him if he was here. I’ll pay you five hundred thousand down, balance in thirty days, or when deed passes." He looked at me with a mixture of business shrewdness and bluff friendship. "I’ll take the responsibility of accepting that offer," I said promptly. And General Wilson drew his check and scribbled a few lines on a sheet of paper. "Here, sign this receipt and memorandum of agreement, and give me that power of attorney; I’ll have it recorded," he said. "Now take that check and get over to the bank as quick as the Lord’ll let you. We’ll make out the contract in due form this afternoon, and I’ll get that on record, too." Then he chuckled jovially, and gave me another slap on the back as he added: "Stick to me, and I’ll make a Napoleon of Finance out of you yet, Hampden." Until I felt the sudden rebound of my spirits when I saw the check in my hand, I did not realize how horribly I had been scared. I was in a position to appreciate the feelings of a man who felt his house tumbling about his ears in a mighty earthquake, and had waked to find it only a nightmare. But I thanked General Wilson calmly, and rushed hurriedly over to the bank. I had small difficulty in impressing the president with the importance of haste; and the account was cleared and entered in my name before the opening hour. As I returned to the office I met William T. Coleman coming away. His face was calm with resolute strength, and his eyes carried the magnetic inspiration of courage. "I just looked in to tell you that I can’t sit with your committee for an hour or two," he said. "I have some other irons in the fire; but I’ll be in later. Partridge and Nelson are there now, and whatever they approve will be satisfactory to me. If you get at loggerheads, send for me, and I’ll come." His manner more than his words put me in heart with the assurance that I should not have to stand alone in battle, and I hastened with fresh confidence to take my place in the council. "They’re hammering things pretty hard on the exchanges," said Partridge after greetings had been made. "Prices are holding up well, so far, but I guess we’ll have to put a brace under some of those fellows inside of half an hour." And with a clouded brow he studied the strip that came from the ticker. "Carey and Son are shaky," said Nelson. "So are Benbow and Johnson, and a dozen others. And worst of all we’ve got to put some more coin into those confounded banks." "It’s like throwing the money away," groaned Partridge. "They can’t put up collateral that a gambler would look at."