He found the old fellow alone in the office--understand, he didn't go there with any fixed purpose of killing him, his ideas had not carried him that far--he was willing to borrow the money if the old man would lend it to him.

He probably needed quite a sum, say two or three thousand dollars, and the need was urgent, you must keep that in mind and then you'll see perfectly how it all happened.

Possibly my man was of the sort who don't fancy disagreeable interviews and had put off going to the store until the last moment, but once he had settled that point with himself he was determined he wouldn't come away without the money.

The old fellow, however, took a different view of the situation; he couldn't see why he should lend any money, especially when the borrower was vague on the matter of security.
"Well, I guess they talked quite a while there at the back of the store, McBride standing in the doorway of the office all the time.

At last it got to my man that he wasn't to have the money.