How much does the mortgage amount to , sir ? '' `` About three thousand dollars , interest and all . '' Old Stephen 's voice trembled . The future looked very dark to him in his old age . Ben put his hand inside his coat and brought out a brand-new , plump pocketbook . He opened it , laid it on his knee , and counted out a number of crisp notes . `` Here , sir , '' he said , pushing them along the table . `` I reckon that 'll keep you out of Joe Moore 's clutches . There 's three thousand there if I ai n't made a mistake . That 'll set you clear , wo n't it ? '' `` Ben ! '' Old Stephen 's voice trembled with amazement . `` Ben , I ca n't take it . It would n't be fair -- or right . I could never pay you back . '' Ben slipped the rubber band around his wallet and replaced it airily . `` I do n't want it paid back , sir . It 's a little gift , so to speak , just to let you know I ai n't ungrateful for all you did for me . If it had n't been for you I might have been in the penitentiary by now . As for the money , it may seem a pile to you , but we do n't think anything more of a thousand or so in the Kootenay than you Greenvale folks do of a fiver -- not a bit more .
We do things XXXXX a big scale out there . ''
About around by for if in inside of on to