And what did I get out of it ?" demanded Abel, furiously.

"What was my share?
A beggarly check same as he give me the other day, and not a penny more!" "I don't know how much that was," remarked Langholm; "but if you weren't a partner, what claim had you on the profits ?" "Aha! that's tellings," said Abel, with a sudden change both of tone and humor; "that's what I'm here to tell you, if you really want to know! Rum thing, wasn't it?
One night I turn up, like any other swaggy, humping bluey, and next week I'm overseer on a good screw (I will say that) and my own boss out at the out-station.

Same way, one morning I turn up at his grand homestead here--and you know what! It was a check for three figures.

I don't mind telling you.

It ought to have been four.
But why do you suppose he made it even three?
Not for charity, you bet your boots! I leave it to you to guess what for." The riddle was perhaps more easily solvable by an inveterate novelist than by the average member of the community.