rupt, he being
the best business man of them all.

"Yes; he says you have an excellent business proposition, too, in your
new Marsh Pulp Company." She said marsh pulp without an instant's
hesitation.

"I think it's good myself," agreed Sam; "that is, if I can keep hold of
it." Inwardly he added, "And if I can keep old Westlake's clutches
off."

She laughed lightly.

"Papa mentioned that very thing," she informed him. "I don't think I
quite understand what control of stock means, although I've had papa
explain it to me. I gather this much, however, that it is something
you want very much, but can scarcely get without some large stockholder
voting his stock with you."

Sam inspected her narrowly.

"You seem to have a pretty good idea of the thing after all," he
admitted, wondering how much she really knew and understood. "But
maybe your father wouldn't like your repeating to me what you
accidentally learned from him in conversation. Business men are
usually pretty particular about that."

"Oh, he wouldn't mind at all," she said airily. "I'm having him
explain a lot of things to me, because he's making separate investments
for Billy and me. All his new enterprises are for us, and in the last
two or three years he's turned over lots of stock to us in our own
names. But I've never done any actual voting on it. I've only given
proxies. I sign a little blank, you know, that papa fills out for me
and shows me where to put my name and mails to somebody or other, or
else takes it and votes it himself; but I'd rather vote it my own self.
I should think it would be ever so much fun. I'm trying to find out
about how they do such things, and I'd be very glad to have you tell me
all you can about it. It's just perfectly fascinating."

"Yes, it is," Sam admitted. "So you think you may eventually own some
stock in the Marsh Pulp Company?" and he became quite interested.

"If papa takes any I'm quite sure I shall," she returned; "and I think
he will, from what he said. He seems to be so enthusiastic about it
that I'm going to ask him for this stock, and let Billy have the next
that he buys. I hope he does take a good lot of it. Isn't this the
dearest place imaginable?" and with charming naivete she looked about
the tiny amphitheatre-like circle, admiring the projecting stones which
formed natural seats, and the broad shelving of slippery rock which led
up to it.

"Yes, it is," said Sam with considerable tho