'No, sir, I'm sorry, but--' "'Why don't you ask Mr.Scudder to make the experiment, uncle ?' suggests that confounded niece, smilin' the spitefullest smile.
"'Scudder,' says the professor, 'I'll give you five thousand dollars cash to start in that aeroplane this moment.' "For a jiffy Nate was staggered.

Five thousand dollars CASH--whew! But then he thought of how deep Gus had been shoved into that sandbank.
And there was a new and more powerful motor aboard the thing now.

Five thousand dollars ain't much good to a telescoped corpse.

He fetched a long breath.
"'Well, now, Mr.Dixland,' he says, 'I'd like to, fust rate, but you see I don't know nothin' about mechanics.' "'Professor--' begins Augustus.

'Twas the final straw.