He looked up and down the street and then drew a long breath, and put the paper against the wall again and sighed as he erased the thirty-five dollars and put down fifty dollars after his name.

Then he started for the bank to see General Hendricks.

The large white plumes were still dancing in his eyes.
But so far as Barclay is concerned the colonel never reached the bottom of the stairs, for Barclay had his desk covered with law-books and was looking up contracts.

In an hour he had a draft of a mortgage and option to buy the mortgaged land written out, and was copying it for the printer.

He took it to the _Banner_ office and asked Brownwell to put two men on the job, and to have the proof ready by the next morning.
Brownwell waved both hands magnificently and with much grace, and said: "Mr.Barclay, we will put three men on the work, sir, and if you will do me the honour, I will be pleased to bring the proof up Lincoln Avenue to the home of our mutual friend, Colonel Culpepper, where you may see it to-night." Barclay fancied that a complacent smile wreathed Brownwell's face at the prospect of going to the Culpeppers', and the next instant the man was saying: "Charming young lady, Miss Molly! Ah, the ladies, the ladies--they will make fools of us.