, and gave him a short account of
the business she was on.

"Why, my dear, good lady!" said Topman, grasping her hand with a freedom
indicating that they had been old friends. "Your husband and me--why, we
were old friends. If there is any man in the world I respect and admire,
that man is Captain Price Bottom. If there is any man living I would
rather make a fortune for than do anything else, that man is Captain
Price Bottom. Yes, madam, not many years ago I used to swear by Captain
Price Bottom; and if Captain Price Bottom was here to-day, I will
venture to assert, on the word of a gentleman, there is no man who would
sooner swear by your humble servant--"

"I am so real glad! My husband made friends wherever he went,"
interrupted the little woman.

"Glad! glad!" resumed Topman, "so am I. God bless him, wherever he goes!
Go back, madam, and get all your neighbors interested in this great
enterprise. Tell them the managers are old friends of your husband. Get
them to bring in their money, madam, and secure a fortune!" Mr. Topman
now showed the little woman the discolored dollars, a matter of great
importance, which Mr. Gusher had omitted.

"Our motto is, madam, 'Never invest your money until you have seen your
basis.' If you see your basis, and it is satisfactory, then come down
with your money and await your fortune. You see the basis, now put your
faith in the firm!" concluded Mr. Topman, politely bowing the little
woman out. She took her departure for home, fully satisfied that she had
a good friend in Mr. Topman, and that she had made a permanent
investment.

CHAPTER XXI.

COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS.

The Great Discovery Company had run its race of prosperity. A few months
passed, and the prospects of those connected with it began to change.
Chapman went about Nyack shaking his head despondingly, and saying that
he had been deceived by Hanz Toodleburg, who had deceived them all with
his story about Kidd's treasure, and would be the cause of their losing
a large amount of money.

"I never would have been caught in such a trap, but I believed Hanz
Toodleburg to be an honest man, a very honest man, and I put faith in
his word. But I have been deceived. Well, it is not the first time my
confidence has been abused in this way," Chapman would say, holding up
his hands, while his face assumed an expression of injured innocence.

Hanz, on the other hand, protested his innocence. Never in all his li