He then replied,
"Heavily in the way of endorsements."
"Of his individual paper?"
"Yes. Also of the paper of his firm."
"To an extent beyond your ability to pay if there should be failure
on their part?"
"Yes; to three times my ability to pay."
Wallingford dropped his eyes to the floor, and sat for some time. He
then looked up into Judge Bigelow's face, and said,
"If that be so, I can see only one way for you."
"Say on."
"Let no more endorsements be given from this day forth."
"How can I suddenly refuse? The thing has been going on for years."
"You can refuse to do wrong on the plea of wrong. If your name gives
no real value to a piece of paper, yet accredits it in the eyes of
others, it is wrong for you to place your endorsement thereon. Is
not this so?"
"I admit the proposition, Henry."
"Very well. The only way to get right, is to start right. And my
dear, dear sir! let me implore you to take immediately the first
step in a right direction. Standing outside of the charmed circle of
temptation as I do, I can see the right way for your feet to walk in
better than you can.
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