n themselves, that I think
nobody knows them. Besides, you might discharge me, you know, if that
should become necessary."

"We won't consider that as even possible. Now, as to ways and means. You
see I depend upon you alone, and of course you must have a free hand.
You mustn't consult me, or Stafford, or Duncan, or anybody else. You are
to act on your own judgment, furnish your own supply of sagacity, and
get that stock in your own way."

"I'll do it, even if I have to resign from your service and hunt another
job. But I must have some money."

"Of course. How much?"

"Well, the stock will cost a trifle over par, I suppose--somewhat more
than a thousand dollars a share. I should be prepared to buy a block of
ten shares. You see, I might find a block of that kind which the owner
would sell 'all or none.' I should have, say, eleven or twelve thousand
dollars at instant command."

"All right. I'll have Stafford open an account with you in our bank
to-morrow morning, with a credit balance of twelve thousand, and you
can check----"

"Pardon me, but if I offer checks on your bank Tandy will suspect our
alliance."

"That is true. You must have the greenbacks themselves. I'll send for
Stafford now and have him give you the money in large bills to-night."

"Pardon me," answered Temple, "but if I go to him with so great a sum in
actual----"

"Yes, I see. That would certainly arouse suspicion. What have you in
mind?"

"Why, you or your bank must have banks in correspondence with you, banks
in Chicago, or better still, New York?"

"Yes, of course."

"Can you not telegraph to one of them and arrange to have them say in
response to a dispatch of inquiry from Tandy's bank, that my credit with
them is good for twelve thousand dollars, and that if I wish to make use
of some money in Cairo, they will pay my drafts up to that amount?"

"That's it. That will be the best plan in every way. You'll need
identification, and I'll arrange that. You're stopping at the hotel, of
course?"

"Yes."

"Very well. I'll call by there on my way home, and tell the proprietor,
Jewett, to go to the bank and identify you whenever called upon."

"Will he not talk?"

"No. I'll tell him not to, and--well, you know, I'm just now arranging a
heavy loan for him. He is paying off the remaining purchase money for
the hotel in installments. That's all, I think. I'll send the Fourth
National Bank of New York a night message. It will be delivere