ought in your
stock after I had solved the problem of the reduction. I say I
believed I was right--to-night I believe I was wrong--it don't matter
how I came to the conclusion, but I've changed my mind. I have come
to-night to make restitution. I am ready to pay you ninety cents more
on every dollar of stock you sold me at that time."

Biddy gasped: "Howly Saints!"

Dan leaped up with a wild hurrah. "Listen to that now!" he cried, with
other incoherences. He shook Clement's hand and kissed Biddy. He
praised Clement.

"Ye're the whitest man that iver stepped green turf."

Clement sat coldly impassive and unsmiling.

"Then you're satisfied?"

"Satisfied!" shouted Dan. "Satisfied is it, man? Indade I am."

"And you, Biddy?"

Biddy was weeping and muttering wild Irish prayers. "Dan, dear, do ye
understand, it's forty-five thousand dollars apiece to the two of us.
Oh, the blessed old Ireland! I'll go back sure. Oh, it's too good to
be true--we must be dramin'."

Clement looked at the distracted woman with a flush of
self-righteousness. He had been right in his fears. It seemed like to
ruin the simple souls. He turned to Eldred, who sat in silence.

"What have you to say?"

Eldred sneered. "I say you can't fool me. These shares are worth
seventeen dollars and eighty cents each. I want their market value,
not their par value. I want one-quarter the present value of 'The
Witch.'"

Clement's brow darkened and his eyes burned with a fierce steady
light.

"Is that all you want? If I served you right I'd kick you out of the
door and let you do your worst. I know if you sue that you can't
recover one dollar from me. But I have my reasons for putting up with
your insolence. I will pay you forty-five thousand dollars and not one
cent more. The market value of 'The Witch' to-day I have made by my
management. I have gone on improving the mine day by day. As it stands
it is a new property. You were a quarter owner in 'The Biddy.' We
capitalized 'The Biddy' at your own suggestion at two hundred thousand
dollars, because we wanted it big enough to cover all values. When I
render you your share of that I am doing you justice. John, make out
three checks for forty-five thousand dollars each."

Dan and Biddy turned upon Eldred and talked him into silence, but he
was unconvinced.

Clement refused to touch the checks, and the clerk said: "Here is
yours, Biddy."

Biddy went up and took the slip in her hands. "Is that littl