py day for me. Since the old man gave
you a share in the mine, Molino has property, after all!"

"Has it to get," amended Harris dubiously.

"Oh, we'll get it!" cried Ketchim, rubbing his hands gleefully. "But
now while waiting for Cass, tell me more about your trip. It is
wonderful! And so romantic!"

In the midst of the ensuing recital, Cass was announced; and Ketchim,
after detailing to him the previous conversation, launched into the
project which had been developing in his own mind while Reed had been
describing his experiences in the South.

"What we want is another organization, fellows," he said in
conclusion, "to take over the tottering Molino; purchase its assets
with stock; give Molino stockholders an opportunity to get in on the
ground floor, and so on. We'll let Molino die in the arms of a new
company, eh?"

"But one with a somewhat wider scope," suggested Cass, with an air of
importance. "A sort of general development company, to secure La
Libertad, if possible; prospect for other mineral properties; and
develop the resources of the country."

"Just so," assented Ketchim, with increasing enthusiasm. "A company to
go in for coffee, cotton--you say you saw wild cotton, didn't you,
fellows? Great! And cocoanuts, timber, cattle--in fact, we'll get
concessions from the Colombian Government, and we'll--"

"Just rip things wide open, eh?" finished Harris.

"That's it!" cried Ketchim radiantly. "Uncle Ted has influence at
Washington, with the Pan American Union, and so on--why, we can get
anything we want! Ames and the bank will both cool down--by Jove, this
is great!"

"But where's the cold and vulgar cash coming from to oil the wheels?"
put in the practical Harris.

"Oh, I can sell the stock," replied Ketchim. "Then, too, there's the
Molino stockholders; why, I'll bet there's hardly one that wouldn't be
able to scrape up a few dollars more for the new company! By the way,
what'll we call it? Give us a name, somebody."

"I'd call it the Salvation Company," drawled Harris, "as it is likely
to delay your trip to Sing Sing."

A general laugh, in which Ketchim joined heartily, followed the
remark.

"I suggest we call it the Simiti Development Company," said Cass,
after a moment's dignified reflection.

"Great!" cried Ketchim. "It has a prosperous ring! And now its
capitalization? We must make it big!"

"Hem!" returned Cass. "If these gentlemen can acquire that mine, I
think I would capitalize for