Of course, he could never get judgment for that much.

But he hung out at ten thousand; said it would be selling his daughter if he took any less.

Now I knew you couldn't raise that much on any property you have, especially in these hard times--" Geary paused for the fraction of an instant; he had thrown out the last remark as a feeler, to see what Vandover would say; but his chum said nothing, staring vaguely at the opposite wall, merely making a faint sign to show that he understood, closing his eyes and bending his head.

"And so," continued the other, "I jewed him down, and what do you suppose?
Well, sir, from twenty-five thousand I brought him right down to, say, eight thousand.

I could see that he had some scheme that he wants to go into right away, and that he wants ready money, right on the nail, you know, to carry it through.