enough
both boys looked, exposed as they had been to the _tanning_ winds for
more than a fortnight.

"Jubilate!" shouted Raed, as I opened the door. "Latest news from
Mount Katahdin,--graphite stock clean up to the moon!"

Wade came _looking_ down stairs, nothing on but his gown and slippers.
At sight of his tousled head both our callers gave a whoop of
recognition, and set upon him,--shook him out of his slippers, and
pulled him down the steps on to the sidewalk barefoot; thereby
scandalizing a whole houseful of prim damsels across the street, who
indignantly pulled down their curtains. Such a hand-shaking and
back-patting as ensued! All the hardships and discouragement we had
endured on our last season's expedition seemed to bear an exultant
harvest in this our final success.

"But you haven't been to breakfast!" exclaimed Kit.

"So they haven't!" cried Raed. "Well, can't do business till they have
their breakfast. We'll leave 'em to guzzle their coffee in peace. But
hurry up! We must hold a council this morning,--have a grand pow-wow!
Come round at nine sharp."

They were off.

We ate breakfast, and went down to Raed's, where we got into the back
parlor, shut the doors, and proceeded to pow-wow. Wade was chosen
president of the meeting; Kit, secretary.

"First," said Raed, "allow me to give an account of my stewardship. No
need of going into details. We went up to Katahdin; found the lode.
Messrs. _Hammer and Tongs_ were well satisfied. The fifteen thousand
dollars was paid without so much as winking. Might have had twenty
thousand dollars just as well; but I didn't know it when I made the
offer. Hope you won't be dissatisfied with me. Here's the money; two
checks,--one on the First National Bank for nine thousand dollars, the
other on the Maverick National Bank for six thousand dollars."

"I move we accept the gentleman's statement, and tender our sincere
thanks for his eminently successful services," said _a voice_.

The motion was seconded by Kit, and carried.

"Question now arises," Raed resumed, "What shall we do with this
money? Of course we must plant it somewhere, have it growing, what we
don't want to use immediately."

"Might speculate a little with it," suggested Wade, "so as to double
it up along."

"And risk losing the whole of it," put in Kit.

"'Nothing risked, nothing gained,'" quoted Wade. "What say, Raed? Why
not buy gold?"

"Better put it into bonds," said Kit; "safer, a good dea