e projects I've been exploiting. Just excuse me
for a few moments."

He hastened out to greet the visitor and conducted him into a back
room. Reed and Harris were left to the contemplation of their own
mixed thoughts. Presently Harris, whose eyes had been dilating
for some moments, broke out in a hoarse whisper: "Listen! God
a'mighty!--he's praying!"

He got up softly and approached the door of the room into which
Ketchim had taken his caller. In a few minutes he returned to his
chair. "By Jove!" he exclaimed. "I could see Ketchim through the
keyhole, on his knees by the bed, praying with that fellow! Now what
the d--!"

Reed held up a warning finger. Through the silence that fell upon
them snatches of the prayer being offered in the adjoining room
floated to their ears--"O, blessed Saviour, vouchsafe prosperity to
our venture, we beseech thee! The earth is the Lord's, and the
fullness thereof--we ask thy blessing on these efforts of ours to
wrest from the ground the wealth which the Father of lights has
deposited there for the benefit of His children--"

Harris snickered aloud. "What's the game?" he whispered.

Reed shook his head in warning. "It may not be a game," he replied.
"But if it is, it's an old one, hiding behind the mask of religion.
But I'm inclined to believe the man sincere."

"And I'm not!" retorted Harris. "I'd rather deal with his brother. I
know James to be an out-and-out rascal--he openly flies the black
flag. But this pious fellow--well, he's got me guessing!"

The caller soon departed, and Ketchim again joined the young men.
"He's our assistant pastor," he said musingly, as he watched the man
go down the walk. "Nice young fellow, waiting for a church. He and
some of his friends are interested in a zinc mine we've been floating,
down in the Joplin district."

"Got titles?" queried the cynical Harris, with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Oh, yes," Ketchim smiled affably.

"Mine producing?"

"Well, no--not yet. Lots of development work to be done, you know.
Always is. And there's a lot of water in this mine."

"And in the stock, too, eh?" pursued the cruel Harris. "Got any ore?"

"We haven't struck the deposit yet, although we expect to soon. But,"
glancing up at the clock on the mantel, "we'll have to be going over
to Sunday school now. And I want that little girl to go with Marjorie.
Fellows," the man's face became deeply serious, "I have no doubt you
are both church members?"

Reed fidg