od many who
have sold to Pulcifer. All the little fellows, the small holders. You
haven't, you say?"

"I haven't sold a share to him."

"Humph! Neither has Cap'n Jeth Hallett; he told me so just now....
Hum!... What is Raish buying for? What's the reason he's buying? Have
you heard?"

"I've heard what he's told other folks; that's all I know about it."

"Hum.... Yes, yes. Well, here's my advice, Miss Phipps: If I were
you--if I were you, I say, and he came to me and wanted to buy, I
shouldn't be in too big a hurry to sell. Not in too big a hurry, I
shouldn't."

"Why not?"

He glanced at her quickly. "Oh, he HAS been to see you about buying your
shares, then?" he suggested.

She shook her head. "I didn't say he had," she replied. "I just asked
why I shouldn't sell if he wanted to buy, that's all. Why shouldn't I?"

He seemed more embarrassed and a trifle irritated.

"Why--why--Oh, well, I suppose you should, perhaps, if he offers you
enough. But I wish you wouldn't until--until--Well, couldn't you let me
know before you give him his answer? Would you mind doing that?"

And now she looked keenly at him. "What would I gain by that?" she
asked. "YOU aren't thinkin' of buyin' more of that stock, are you? The
other time when we talked, you told me the Trust Company had all they
cared to own and were keepin' it because they had to. I would have been
glad--yes, awfully glad, to sell you my shares. But you wouldn't even
consider buyin'. Do you want to buy now?"

He frowned. "I don't know what I want," he said, impatiently. "Except
that the one thing we want to find out is why Pulcifer is buying. The
Trust Company holds a big block of that stock and--and if there is
anything up we want to know of it."

"What do you mean by 'anything up'?"

"Oh, I mean if some other people are trying to get--er--into the thing.
Of course, it isn't likely, but--"

He did not finish the sentence. She asked another question.

"Has Raish been to see you about buyin' the Trust Company stock?" she
asked.

"No. He hasn't been near us."

"Perhaps he would if you told him you wanted to sell."

"I don't know that we do want to sell. That's a pretty good piece of
property over there and some day--Ahem! Oh, well, never mind. But I
wish you would let us know before you sell Pulcifer your holdings. It
might--I can't say positively, you know--but it MIGHT be worth your
while."

Martha, of course, made no promise, but she thought a good