"Terms--thirty days with good endorsed paper," was sufficient for the adventurous Smith to _buy_ and depend on Jenks' _autograph_ to _secure_ the goods. When in funds, Bingle went where he chose; when a little _short_, Jenks had his patronage. Jenks kept but few memorandums of acts of kindness he daily committed; hence when the evil effects of them began to revolve upon him--if not mortified or ashamed of his "bargains," he at least was astounded at the results. Brown, whose due bills or memorandums Jenks held, to the amount of seven thousand dollars, accommodation _loans_, took an apoplectic, one warm summer's day, after taking a luxurious dinner. Jenks had hardly learned that Brown's affairs were pronounced in a state of deferred bankruptcy, when the first rumor reached him that Smith had _bolted_, after a heavy transaction in "woolens"--Jenks his principal endorser--Smith not leaving assets or assigns to the amount of one red farthing. "By Jove!" poor Jenks muttered, as he tremulously seated himself in his back counting room--"that's shabby in Smith--very shabby." The next morning's Gazette informed the community that Bingle had failed--liabilities over $200,000--prospects barely giving hopes of ten per cent, all around; and even this hope, upon Jenks' investigation, proved a forlorn one; by a _modus operandi_ peculiar to the heartless, self-devoted, _they_ got all, Jenks and the _few_ of his ilk, got nothing! For the first time in his life, Jenks became pecuniarily moody. For the first time, in the course of his mercantile career, of some six years, the force of reflection convinced him, that he had not acted his part judiciously, however "well done" it might be, in point of honor and manliness. The next day Jenks devoted to a scrutiny of his accounts in general with the business world. He found things a great deal "mixed up;" his balance-sheet exhibited large surplusages accumulated on the score of his leniency and good nature; by the credit of those with whom he held business relations. A council of war, or expediency, rather,--_solus_, convinced Jenks, he had either mistaken his business qualifications, or formed a very vague idea of the soul--manners and customs of the business world; and he broke up his council, a sadder if not a wiser man. "By Jove, this is discouraging; I'll have to do a very disagreeable thing, very disagreeable thing: _make an assignment!_" "Who'd thought John Jenks would ever come to that?" that individual muttered to himself, as he proceeded to his hotel. And ere he reached his plate, at the tea-table, a servant whispered that a gentleman with a message was out in the "office" of the hotel, anxious to see Mr. Jenks. "Mr. Jenks--John Jenks, I believe, sir?" began the person, as poor Jenks, now on the _tapis_ for more ill news, approached the person in waiting. "Precisely, that's my name, sir," Jenks responded.