had a good time. They seemed to. I know I did."

"Yes, they were a fine lot of young people," went on the millionaire.
"Oh, by the way, I had a letter from the man in Yazoo City I wrote to
about your gold mine stock. Nick Smith, his name is. He's an old
forty-niner, I understand."

"What does he say?"

"The mine is all right. He sent me a report from the government assay
office, and I guess the Dolphin is as good as the Hop Toad."

"Then I'd better finish paying for the stock when Mr. Vanderhoof comes
to town again," said Dick. "It will be mine then, and all I'll have to
do is to wait for it to increase and pay me big dividends."

"I hope it does," answered Mr. Hamilton. "I also had a letter from
Vanderhoof yesterday. He also had heard from Smith, it appears, and as
he learned the mine was favorably reported on, he sent word that he'd
call to-day for the fifteen hundred dollars."

"He can have it, dad," said Dick. "I guess I'll go down to the bank with
you. What time will Mr. Vanderhoof be there?"

"At eleven, his letter said. Well, if you have finished breakfast, come
along. You're getting to be quite a financier."

"I'm going to make that a paying investment if it's a possible thing,"
answered Dick, as he walked through the well-kept grounds toward the
street and thought of Uncle Ezra's place.

Mr. Vanderhoof was promptly on time, and had the bonds ready for Dick,
who paid for them with a check. The youth, who had about given up trying
to recall where he had seen Vanderhoof before, thought the mining
promoter smiled more than ever like a cat as he handed over the
securities and took the money.

"I'm sure I hope you double your capital," he remarked, with a smirk
that showed nearly all his teeth.

"Oh, if I make twenty-five per cent. I'll be satisfied," answered Dick.

"Well, I'll be in town for a few days," Mr. Vanderhoof went on, "and if
either of you would like to take some more mining stock I'll be glad to
accommodate you."

"I have enough," replied the millionaire, and Dick answered that he
wanted to see how this investment turned out before venturing another.

"Well, I'll be in town, at any rate," was the promoter's parting remark.

Dick felt quite like a man of business as he looked over his check book
a little later and noted what he had paid out. True, he had taken in
nothing since he had come into his fortune, but he knew the wealth his
mother had left him was accumulating interest all the wh