iades Sandoval y Hijos, Montevidio. Gentlemen: Your order
shipped to-day by steamer Escobar as per your esteemed favor of the
5th. Invoices inclosed. In the item of mowing machines, was unable
to fill order with Nonpareil as desired. Have taken liberty of
substituting fifty Micas, the Mica being the same in every respect
except the name plate. In fact, the two firms, with others, have a
"gentleman's agreement" sharing patents, keeping up separate plants
only to preserve the appearance of competition. (Confound it--excuse
me, Miss Stanley--there's my hobby again. Shouldn't have said that,
but let it go.) Trusting you will find this satisfactory in every
particular, and hoping to be favored by your future orders, I am,
etc.'--Got that? Next!

"'Brown, Small & VanRiper, Hartford, Ct. Gentlemen: Inclosed find my
check for $27,000, to be used in the matter we discussed the other
day. Kindly send papers to my lawyers, Reed, Reed, Perkins & Reed.

"'Am sorry I cannot more largely avail myself of the privilege so
kindly extended me. At the present, however, my capital is tied up in
various enterprises, and I am really crowding myself to raise this.
Thanking you for past favors, etc.'--Here's the last. 'Mr. Joseph
Yates, Rehobeth Beach, Delaware. Dear old Joe: Sorry to hear of your
undeserved bad luck. While not exactly a financial Napoleon these
days, I am able to accommodate you, and glad to do so. Have not
forgotten the time you helped me out of a mighty tight place. Draw on
me for $10,000 through the Marine. Take your time for repayment. If
this is not enough, let me know. Kind regards to the wife--and take
care of yourself, old man. In haste, your old friend----'

"Pound those off, Miss Stanley. Jim"--this to the silently industrious
bookkeeper--"how much have we got at the Marine?"

After swift search in a little black book the bookkeeper looked
up--"Seven thousand six hundred-twenty, sir," he replied respectfully.

"I'll give you enough to make out ten thousand to honor old Joe's
draft," ruminated Mitchell, twirling the safe-knobs deftly. "You take
it round and deposit it. On your way back jack Stevens up about those
plows. Tell him if he don't get 'em round on time he loses one big
customer--and that's me." Counting out the required amount, he stuffed
the slight remainder in his pocket, slammed shut the safe, signed his
letters briskly, and took up his hat. "Come on, Thompson, we'll be
off."

"Now then," he resume