“Why, this—­er—­is rather a late time in the day to collect bills,” hinted Mr. Forrester, in an uncertain voice.

“Had the matter not been just a little pressing we wouldn’t have ventured over as late,” Benson replied, softly.  “However, you understand what I would say, don’t you, Mr. Forrester?”

There was something about the young speaker’s manner, his tone, the look in his eyes, that proclaimed him to be anything but a “quitter.”  Mr. Forrester began to feel that, if he succeeded in evading payment this evening, he would only have to see these young men frequently.

“Well, you see, Benson,” he said, at last, “I don’t want to draw for such a sum against my check account before to-morrow.”

“I think we could come again to-morrow, if we have to,” responded young Benson, as though thinking it over.

“I am going to make a deposit in my bank in the morning,” continued the man.

“Then we are to come again to-morrow evening?” insisted Jack.

“Why, hang it, no.  If you’ll take cash, instead of check, I can let you have the money to-night.”

But that gentleman added, under his breath: 

“I may as well settle to-night as have them coming again to-morrow.”

“Why, certainly we’ll take the cash, to-night,” replied young Benson, his face beaming at thought of how easily a fine commission was to be earned as part of an evening’s pleasure.

Mr. Forrester, having made the offer, began secretly to regret it.  He was a man who meant to pay his debts, but just now he felt that he would really like to have the money to use in other directions.

Jack, however; began to suspect that some such thought was in the other’s mind.

“With your permission, Mr. Forrester,” said the boy, reaching over the desk, “I’ll borrow one of your pens.”

In a firm, clear hand Jack Benson promptly receipted the bill, dating the receipt as well, and affixing his own name as the collector.

“Now, that’s all done,” smiled Jack, pleasantly, putting back the pen, blotting the fresh ink and passing the paper half forward.

Stifling a sigh, Mr. Forrester rose, going to his safe.  A few turns of the combination lock and he pulled the steel door open.

“Nine hundred and fifty dollars that came in this afternoon.  I intended to bank it in the morning,” he said, then began to count “If a burglar broke in to-night and cracked the safe,” he added, with a laugh, “I’d be glad, in the morning, that I had settled this bill with cash.”

Jack received the bills with a rapidly beating heart.  He counted them, found the amount correct, and passed half the money to Hal Hastings.

“For safety, Hal,” he suggested, “I think we’d better divide the money, and then each of us put half of his own pile in each shoe.”

Mr. Forrester watched with something like an amused smile as the two youngsters crossed the room, removing their shoes, and putting small packets of bills down inside.