The price at which the plant was to be purchased was satisfactory, but the ex-baker insisted that Mr.Flagler should advise him whether he should take his pay in cash or Standard Oil certificates at par.

He told Mr.Flagler that if he took it in cash it would pay all his debts, and he would be glad to have his mind free of many anxieties; but if Mr.Flagler said the certificates were going to pay good dividends, he wanted to get into and keep up with a good thing.

It was rather a hard proposition to put up to Mr.Flagler, and at first he declined to advise or express any opinion, but the German stuck to him and wouldn't let him shirk a responsibility which in no way belonged to him.

Finally Mr.Flagler suggested that he take half the amount in cash and pay 50 per cent.

on account of his debts, and put the other half in certificates, and see what happened.