convinced that it will _not_ strike
virgin copper, aren't you? So much so that you wouldn't take
Madeleine's money, or my money, to put into it." These search-lights
of Gregg's had a way of uncovering many secret places.

Philip turned in his chair and looked at Adam. What was the matter
with the dear fellow this afternoon, he said to himself.

"Certainly not--and for two reasons: first, you are not in the Street;
and second, because I never gamble with a friend's money."

"But you gamble with the money of the innocent men and women who
believe in your firm, and who in the end buy these bonds of the trust
company, don't you?"

"Well, but what have we got to do with the bonds after we sell them?
We are not running the mine, we're only getting money for them to run
it on, and incidentally our commissions," and he smiled knowingly.
"The trust company does the same thing. This widow-and-orphan business
is about played out in the Street. The shrewdest buyers we have are
just these people, and they get their cent per cent every time. Don't
you bother your dear old head over this matter; just be glad it's
coming out all right--I am, I tell you!"

Gregg had risen from his chair and was standing over Philip with a
troubled look on his face.

"Phil," he said slowly, "look at me. From what you tell me, you can't
issue these bonds! You can't afford to do it--no honest man can!"

The young financier lay back in his chair and broke out into laughter.

"Old Gentleman," he said, as he reached up his hand and laid it
affectionately on Gregg's waistcoat--it was a pet name of his--"you
just stick to your brushes and paints and I'll stick to my
commissions. If everybody in the Street had such old-fashioned notions
as you have we'd starve to death. We've got to take risks, everybody
has. You might as well say that when a stock is going up and against
us we shouldn't cover right away to save ourselves from further loss;
or that when it's going down we shouldn't sell and saddle the other
fellow with the slump while we get from under. Now I'm going home to
tell Madeleine the good news; she's been on pins and needles for a
week."

Gregg began pacing the floor, his hands behind his back. His movements
were so unusual and his face bore so troubled a look that Philip, who
had thrown away his cigar and had picked up his hat preparatory to
leaving the room, delayed his departure.

Adam halted in front of him and now stood gazing into his