el and iron mixed, on poor
old dad. I can't sell it anywhere. It's a peculiar mixture of metal.
Some new company had it made for their machinery and they busted up.
I've got the stuff back in the storage yard now. Can't get rid of it,
though I've tried all over. That's where all my money is. So I have to
begin all over again."

"It's too bad," said Dick, with ready sympathy.

"Yes, dad felt quite cut-up over it--for a few days. Then he thought of
a new scheme. He says it'll make our fortune if he can only work it. But
he hasn't any capital to start it, and, until I work some up in a small
way, I haven't any, either. But there, I'm sorry I bothered you with all
my troubles. I guess you have enough of your own. I'll pull out
somehow." And calling to the horse, that had gone to sleep, Henry
managed to arouse the animal and started off, the wagon rattling like a
load of steel girders.

"Everything seems to be going wrong," murmured Dick, as he walked toward
home. "I guess I'll have to help Henry along some more. He deserves it.
And I must do something about my own investment. The time is getting
shorter."

For two weeks Dick thought over many plans, but as fast as he made them
he rejected them. Some his father advised him against, and others, after
consideration, he decided would not give an adequate return for money
invested. He was getting worried, for it was only a little more than a
month until his birthday, when, if he had not complied with the
provisions of the will, he must spend a year with his Uncle Ezra. The
thought of that made him gloomy indeed.

He had almost decided, one afternoon, to put some money in a small
ice-cream store, which he heard was being started at Lake Dunkirk for
the summer excursion season.

"There ought to be good money in that," reasoned Dick. "I could get a
lot of my friends to buy ice-cream there and it would help me to make a
profit. I think I'll look up the manager and see if he'll take a
partner."

He was about to go out, to put his newly-formed resolution into
operation, when the maid announced a gentleman to see him.

"Who is it?" asked Dick.

"He won't tell me his name. He insists on seeing you at once."

"Another crank, I suppose. I thought they were done coming here. Well,
show him in."

A moment later there entered the room a little man, with a long white
beard and snow-white hair. He had the jolliest face imaginable, and
looked just like a picture of Santa Claus.