rather heavily, but I have done it
without advice, and you must do the same. It isn't right for any man to
lead another into experiments of this sort, and it is hardly the fair
thing to ask him to do it. I've looked for myself, but the fact that I
am satisfied is no good reason for your being so."

"Very well, tell us how to do it," said the spokesman. "We cannot leave
our business to do what you have done, and we shall be obliged to run
some risk, if we go into it at all."

"Now, look here," said the wily proprietor, "you are putting me in a
hard place. Suppose the matter turns out badly; are you going to come to
me, and charge me with leading you into it?"

"Not at all," was responded, almost in unison.

"If you want to go into the Continental, I presume there is still some
stock to be had. If you wish me to act as your agent, I will serve you
with a great deal of pleasure, but, mark you, I take no responsibility.
I will receive your money, and you shall have your certificates as soon
as the mail will bring them; and, if I can get no stock of the Company,
you shall have some of my own."

They protested that they did not wish to put him to inconvenience, but
quietly placed their money in his hands. Every sum was carefully counted
and recorded, and Mr. Belcher assured them that they should have their
certificates within five days.

As they retired, he confidentially told them that they had better keep
the matter from any but their particular friends. If there was any man
among those friends who would like "a chance in," he might come to him,
and he would do what he could for him.

Each of these men went off down the hill, full of dreams of sudden
wealth, and, as each of them had three or four particular friends to
whom Mr. Belcher's closing message was given, that gentleman was
thronged with visitors the next day, each one of whom he saw alone. All
of these, too, had particular friends, and within ten days Mr. Belcher
had pocketed in his library the munificent sum of one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars. After a reasonable period, each investor received a
certificate of his stock through the mail.

It was astonishing to learn that there was so much money in the village.
It came in sums of one hundred up to five hundred dollars, from the most
unexpected sources--little hoards that covered the savings of many
years. It came from widows and orphans; it came from clergymen; it came
from small tradesmen and farme