h he and all who had
trusted in him might any day become entangled, their investments swept
away, the men he had hired left without pay, and he stranded on this
island. It may seem that Winn was borrowing needless worriment, and yet
once the canker spot of suspicion fastens itself upon a man's mind, it
grows until it turns all things green.

One thing he tried to do--avoid Mona. And yet he could not to any
extent, for since she dwelt next door he must needs meet her and speak
almost daily. And strange to say, now that it was in his heart to act
indifferent, her appealing eyes and winsome face began to seem a
reproach, and his conscience troubled him. For a week he passed each
evening alone in his room trying to read one of the books he had brought
with him, or else in Jess Hutton's store, listening to the gossip of the
men who gathered there, interspersed with an occasional bit of quaint
philosophy from the lips of Jess himself, and then a bombshell in the
way of a letter to him reached the island. It was as follows:--

"DEAR WINN,

"Have been back to the city now for two weeks and watching the
trend of the market. I was satisfied, as I wrote you, that
Weston & Hill were preparing to launch a skyrocket--now I know
it. What with printer's ink and that walking tombstone,
Simmons, they have managed to get Rockhaven among the unlisted
but active stocks, and by some chicanery, worked the price up
to six dollars. Page, my broker, says it's a wildcat of the
most pronounced stripe. A good many are short of it at below
its present price and yet it holds firm. I've unloaded half I
bought, so I am on Easy Street, and am watching out. It may go
up with a whoop or down with a thud. One guess is as good as
another, but what you best do is send me your stock and let
Page sell it. Also if you have sold any to your friends, give
them the tip. I know you believe in Weston and think, as you
have said, that I am a perpetual scoffer. They may be all
right, but I don't believe it, and now as you have a chance to
unload and make a good thing, better do it.

"Yours ever,

"JACK.

"P.S.--I forgot to mention that Ethel Sherman is still up in
the mountains and the belle of all occasions. She asked a lot
of questions about you and in such a way I was almost tempted
to believe they were sincere. She has failed to land the