rged, however, by the more sanguine members of the Board that
this was not a fair trial. There had been many expenses which probably
would not have to be incurred again.

"But they didn't amount to so very much," said Kate, who, as Treasurer,
was present at the meeting. "Aunt Judy only charged a dollar and a half
for Harry's board, and the boat was only a dollar. And all the other
expenses would have to be expected any time."

After some further conversation on the subject, it was thought best to
attend to present business rather than future prospects, and to appoint
committees to collect the money due the company.

Harry and Tom Selden were delegated to visit the mica-mine people, while
Harvey, Wilson Ogden, and Brandeth Price composed the committee to
collect what was due from private individuals.

Before Harry started for the mica mine, he consulted his father in
regard to charging full price for the telegrams which he carried across
the creek in his pocket.

Mr. Loudon laughed a good deal at the transaction, but he told Harry
that there was no reason why he should not charge for those telegrams.
He had certainly carried them over in the first place, and the
subsequent double transmission over the wire was his own affair.

When Harry and Tom rode over to the mica mine the next morning, and
explained their business and presented their bill, their account was
found to be correct, and the amount of the bill was promptly handed to
them.

When this little business had been transacted, Mr. Martin, the manager
of the mine, invited them to sit down in his office and have a talk.

"This line of yours," said he, "is not going to pay you."

"Why not?" asked Harry, somewhat disturbed in mind by this sudden
statement of what he had already begun to fear was an unpleasant truth.

"It _has_ paid us," said Tom Selden. "Why, we've only been working it
five days, on regular business, and we've cleared--well, we've cleared
considerable."

"That may be," said the manager, smiling, "but you can't have made very
much, for you must have a good many expenses. The principal reason why I
think it won't pay you is that you have to keep up two stations, and you
all live on this side of the creek. I've heard that one of you had a
hard time getting over the creek last week."

"That was Harry," said Tom.

"So I supposed," said Mr. Martin; "and it must have been a pretty
dangerous trip. Now it won't do to do that sort of thing often;