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Alger, Horatio, Jr.

"Cast Upon The Breakers"

He resolved for the present to play the part of the bluff and unsuspecting country visitor.


? ? ? ? "You are very kind, Mr. Wheeler," he said, "to take so much trouble for a stranger."


? ? ? ? "My dear sir," said Wheeler effusively, "I wouldn't do it for many persons, but I have taken a fancy to you."


? ? ? ? "You don't mean so?" said Pettigrew, appearing pleased?


? ? ? ? "Yes, I do, on my honor."


? ? ? ? "But I don't see why you should. You are a polished city gentleman and I am an ignorant miner from Montana."


? ? ? ? Louis Wheeler looked complacent when he was referred to as a polished city gentleman.


? ? ? ? "You do yourself injustice, my dear Pettigrew," he said in a patronizing manner. "You do indeed. You may not be polished, but you are certainly smart, as you have shown by accumulating a fortune."


? ? ? ? "But I am not as rich as you."


? ? ? ? "Perhaps not, but if I should lose my money, I could not make another fortune, while I am sure you could. Don't you think it would be a good plan for us to start a business together in New York?"


? ? ? ? "Would you really be willing to go into business with me?"


? ? ? ? Jefferson Pettigrew asked this question with so much apparent sincerity that Wheeler was completely deceived.


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