true, would he have to worry about a position, or whether he would be
able to maintain his present place in society. One could not possibly
say what an investment like this might not lead to. Winfield, so he told
Eugene, expected eventually to clear six or eight million dollars
himself. He was going to take stock in some of the hotels, casinos, and
various other enterprises, which would be organized. He could clearly
see how, later, once this land was properly drained and laid out, it
would be worth from three to fifteen thousand dollars per lot of one
hundred by one hundred feet--the smallest portions to be sold. There
were islands which for clubs or estates should bring splendid returns.
Think of the leases to yacht and boat clubs alone! The company would own
all the land.

"I would develop this myself if I had the capital," said Winfield, "but
I want to see it done on a gigantic scale, and I haven't the means. I
want something here which will be a monument to me and to all connected
with it. I am willing to take my chances pro rata with those who now
enter, and to prove my good faith I am going to buy as many shares as I
possibly can on the five-for-one basis. You or anyone else can do the
same thing. What do you think?"

"It's a great idea," said Eugene. "It seems as though a dream which had
been floating about in the back of my head for years had suddenly come
to life. I can scarcely believe that it is true, and yet I know that it
is, and that you will get away with it just as you are outlining it
here. You want to be very careful how you lay out this property, though.
You have the chance of a lifetime. For goodness' sake, don't make any
mistakes! Let's have one resort that will be truly, beautifully right."

"That's precisely the way I feel about it," answered Winfield, "and
that's why I am talking to you. I want you to come in on this, for I
think your imagination will be worth something. You can help me lay this
thing out right and advertise it right."

They talked on about one detail and another until finally Eugene, in
spite of all his caution, saw his dreams maturing in this particular
proposition. Fifty thousand dollars invested here would give him two
thousand five hundred shares--one thousand preferred, and fifteen
hundred common--whose face value, guaranteed by this magnificent piece
of property, would be $250,000. Think of it, $250,000--a quarter of a
million and that subject to a natural increase whi