"
"Ah?" This "ah?" was particularly chilling.
"There are more rapid fortunes made at the lead-mines in the
neighbourhood of Galena, at present, than in any part of the United
States," said Martin, approaching, by rapid advances, the subject
nearest to his thoughts.
"You think so?" returned Jasper, with cold incredulity.
"I know so," was the positive response. "I could point you to a dozen
men who have made their tens of thousands annually for the last five
or ten years."
"It is easy to talk about making tens of thousands, Martin; but the
fact itself is a more difficult matter."
"A fact is a fact, however, Mr. Jasper," said the other. "What is
done, is done."
"Of course."
"It is a fact that money is made at the lead-mines, hand over fist,"
continued Martin. "Of this I am prepared to give you the strongest
kind of evidence."
"Why should you be so anxious to convince me of this fact?" returned
the merchant. "I have quite as many irons in the fire now as I can see
to."
"Ah! That may be," said Martin, forcing to his rather hard features a
bland smile. "But these new irons I will keep from burning."
"It's no use, Martin, to talk of lead-mines to me," said Jasper
firmly. "I am spread out enough already. Contraction, not expansion,
is my present motto.
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