"I could point you to a dozen men who have made their tens of thousands annually for the last five or ten years." "It is easy to talk about making tens of thousands, Martin; but the fact itself is a more difficult matter." "A fact is a fact, however, Mr.Jasper," said the other.

"What is done, is done." "Of course." "It is a fact that money is made at the lead-mines, hand over fist," continued Martin.

"Of this I am prepared to give you the strongest kind of evidence." "Why should you be so anxious to convince me of this fact ?" returned the merchant.

"I have quite as many irons in the fire now as I can see to." "Ah! That may be," said Martin, forcing to his rather hard features a bland smile.

"But these new irons I will keep from burning." "It's no use, Martin, to talk of lead-mines to me," said Jasper firmly.