"Markers with the house," exclaimed Garrick as he ran over the
contents of the package hurriedly. "I. O. U.'s for various amounts
and all initialed--for several hundred thousands. Hello, here's a
bunch with an 'F.' That must mean Forbes--thousands of dollars
worth."
The markers were fastened together with a slip in order to
separate them from the others, evidently.
Garrick was hastily totalling them up and they seemed to amount to
a tidy sum.
"How can he ever pay?" I asked, amazed as the sum crept on upward
in the direction of six figures.
"Don't you see that they're cancelled?" interjected Garrick, still
adding.
I had not examined them closely, but as I now bent over to do so I
saw that each bore the words, "Paid by W."
Warrington himself had settled the gambling debts of his friend!
In still greater amazement I continued to look and found that they
all bore dates from several weeks before, down to within a few
days. The tale they told was eloquent. Forbes, his own fortune
gone, had gambled until rescued by his friend.
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