. One of the village
storekeepers was there, too, with bitter complaints against Fate.

"Dang you," he said, "how do you think a man's goin' to make a livin'
out of these Chinks? Dang me if it ain't a shame as you're leavin'."

"Cheer up, Uncle Dud," said Henty, "I'll be coming back with a wife
sometime, and then your sales will double."

In less than a month after they had closed the deal with the syndicate
the boys took leave of their bungalow. They still owned it and the
little plot of ground on which it stood, but they were loath to leave
just the same. A meadowlark sang them a farewell, and the sweetness of
his song affected Henty's eyes. Nelson saw it and liked his friend
better than ever.

"I don't blame them for wanting to make a townsite of this valley,"
said A. P., as they drove to the station. "They won't be stinging
anybody no matter what they charge for the lots."

Before doing battle in Vancouver the two "farmers" held a day's
consultation. They warmed up on a matinee, digested a Chinese dinner
of chop suey and foyung, rice-cakes and various uncivilized desserts,
went to bed late, and next morning had a plunge in the ocean. By that
time they had decided Vancouver was a bad place to begin operations in,
and they took boat for Victoria. There they really went to work.

Selecting one of the largest offices, Evan sauntered in and took a view
of the staff. Henty was waiting around the corner. Strange to say,
two or three of the bankboys were taking a rest by one of the desks.
Evan approached them and asked a general question about the town, as a
stranger might. He liked the way one of the fellows looked at and
talked to him, and made bold to reveal his identity. The clerk held
out his hand:

"Put it there!" he said; "will you come up to our rooms to-night?
We'll have a bunch there to see you that'll make your hair stand on
end."

The ball was about to roll. Evan gave his promise and went out to
rejoin Henty.

"A. P.," he said, "we've got them going. I've discovered the best way
to proceed. Just spot some fellow who looks good to you and then lead
up to the subject of X. Bankclerk. If he is not interested pass him up
and keep on looking till you find someone who is; then leave the
raising of a crowd to him. In cities like this we can afford to spend
two or three days."

Henty was excited. He flushed as only he could flush, and closed his
fists with nervous satisfaction.

The Vic