“I think you are going in too heavily, Monty,” protested Harrison, twisting his fingers nervously.  “I can’t for my life figure how you can get out for less than a fortune, if we do everything you have in mind.  Wouldn’t it be better to pull up a bit?  This looks like sheer madness.  You won’t have a dollar, Monty—­honestly you won’t.”

“It’s not in me to save money, Nopper, but if you can pull out a few dollars for yourself I shall not object.”

“You told me that once before, Monty,” said Harrison, as he walked to the window.  When he resolutely turned back again to Brewster his face was white, but there was a look of determination around the mouth.

“Monty, I’ve got to give up this job,” he said, huskily.  Brewster looked up quickly.

“What do you mean, Nopper?”

“I’ve got to leave, that’s all,” said Harrison, standing stiff and straight and looking over Brewster’s head.

“Good Lord, Nopper, I can’t have that.  You must not desert the ship.  What’s the matter, old chap?  You’re as white as a ghost.  What is it?” Monty was standing now and his hands were on Harrison’s shoulders, but before the intensity of his look, his friend’s eyes fell helplessly.

“The truth is, Monty, I’ve taken some of your money and I’ve lost it.  That’s the reason I—­I can’t stay on.  I have betrayed your confidence.”

“Tell me about it,” and Monty was perhaps more uncomfortable than his friend.  “I don’t understand.”

“You believed too much in me, Monty.  You see, I thought I was doing you a favor.  You were spending so much and getting nothing in return, and I thought I saw a chance to help you out.  It went wrong, that’s all, and before I could let go of the stock sixty thousand dollars of your money had gone.  I can’t replace it yet.  But God knows I didn’t mean to steal.”

“It’s all right, Nopper.  I see that you thought you were helping me.  The money’s gone and that ends it.  Don’t take it so hard, old boy.”

“I knew you’d act this way, but it doesn’t help matters.  Some day I may be able to pay back the money I took, and I’m going to work until I do.”

Brewster protested that he had no use for the money and begged him to retain the position of trust he had held.  But Harrison had too much self-respect to care to be confronted daily with the man he had wronged.  Gradually Monty realized that “Nopper” was pursuing the most manly course open to him, and gave up the effort to dissuade him.  He insisted upon leaving New York, as there was no opportunity to redeem himself in the metropolis.

“I’ve made up my mind, Monty, to go out west, up in the mountains perhaps.  There’s no telling, I may stumble on a gold mine up there—­and—­well, that seems to be the only chance I have to restore what I have taken from you.”

“By Jove, Nopper, I have it!” cried Monty.  “If you must go, I’ll stake you in the hunt for gold.”