Are you prepared to settle ?" "Not to-day, at least." "I am not disposed to be too hard with you," said the man, slightly softening in his tone; "and will say at a word what I will do, and all I will do.

You can take up five hundred of these bills to-day, five hundred in one week, and the balance in equal sums at two and three weeks.

I yield this much; but, understand me, it is all I yield, and you need not ask for any further consideration.
"Well, sir, what do you say ?" Full five minutes after the collector had given his ultimatum, he thus broke in upon the perplexed and undecided silence of the unhappy victim of his own weakness and folly.

"Am I to receive five hundred dollars now, or am I not ?" "Call in an hour, and I will be prepared to give an answer," said Wilkinson.
"Very well.

I'll be here in one hour to a minute," and the man consulted his watch.
And to a minute was he there.
"Well, sir, have you decided this matter ?" said he, on confronting Wilkinson an hour later.