perturbed
them.

They became more voluble than ever. Mr. Ford started anew to tell how he
had first read "The Ring of Bells," and Mr. Ends at the same time was
striving to repeat his niece's appreciation of "The Ring of Bells," said
niece being a school-teacher in Alameda.

"I'll tell you what I came for," Martin said finally. "To be paid for
that story all of you like so well. Five dollars, I believe, is what you
promised me would be paid on publication."

Mr. Ford, with an expression on his mobile features of mediate and happy
acquiescence, started to reach for his pocket, then turned suddenly to
Mr. Ends, and said that he had left his money home. That Mr. Ends
resented this, was patent; and Martin saw the twitch of his arm as if to
protect his trousers pocket. Martin knew that the money was there.

"I am sorry," said Mr. Ends, "but I paid the printer not an hour ago, and
he took my ready change. It was careless of me to be so short; but the
bill was not yet due, and the printer's request, as a favor, to make an
immediate advance, was quite unexpected."

Both men looked expectantly at Mr. White, but that gentleman laughed and
shrugged his shoulders. His conscience was clean at any rate. He had
come into the Transcontinental to learn magazine-literature, instead of
which he had principally learned finance. The Transcontinental owed him
four months' salary, and he knew that the printer must be appeased before
the associate editor.

"It's rather absurd, Mr. Eden, to have caught us in this shape," Mr. Ford
preambled airily. "All carelessness, I assure you. But I'll tell you
what we'll do. We'll mail you a check the first thing in the morning.
You have Mr. Eden's address, haven't you, Mr. Ends?"

Yes, Mr. Ends had the address, and the check would be mailed the first
thing in the morning. Martin's knowledge of banks and checks was hazy,
but he could see no reason why they should not give him the check on this
day just as well as on the next.

"Then it is understood, Mr. Eden, that we'll mail you the check
to-morrow?" Mr. Ford said.

"I need the money to-day," Martin answered stolidly.

"The unfortunate circumstances--if you had chanced here any other day,"
Mr. Ford began suavely, only to be interrupted by Mr. Ends, whose cranky
eyes justified themselves in his shortness of temper.

"Mr. Ford has already explained the situation," he said with asperity.
"And so have I. The check will be mailed--"