Their manifest intimacy struck Johnny as a tacit endorsement of Cliff's character and reputation.

It would seem almost an insult to go around quizzing people about a man so popular with the leading citizens, Johnny told himself.

He would think the proposition over, certainly.

He was not fool enough to jump headfirst into a thing like that at the first crook of a stranger's finger, but-- "Good golly! Talk about luck! Why, at a thousand dollars a week, I can pay old Sudden off in a month, doggone him.

And have a thousand to the good.