ena river we made the acquaintance
of a certain Captain Pinal, of the Colombian army. When he learned
that we were mining men he told us he had a string of rich properties
that he would like to sell. I inquired their location, and he said
they lay along the Boque river. And I learned that he had clear title
to the property, too--Molino's mines. Now you have sold some three or
four hundred thousand dollars' worth of stock on alleged mines to
which you never had even the shadow of a claim!"

"But--" murmured Ketchim weakly, "we thought we had. We acted in good
faith--we took Mr. Lakes's word--and we showed our confidence and
sincerity by purchasing machinery to operate--"

"Oh, the machinery went down there, all right!" ejaculated Harris with
a laugh. "I judge it was designed to manufacture barrel staves, rather
than to extract gold! Lakes had it shipped to Cartagena; rented part
of an old woman's house; dumped the machinery in there; and now she's
wild. Can't get her pay from you for storing the machinery; and can't
sell the stuff, nor move it. So there she sits, under some six or
eight tons of iron junk, waiting for the Lord to perform a miracle!"

Ketchim smiled feebly. "It's too bad!" he murmured. "But Molino has no
funds--"

"You are still selling stock, aren't you?" demanded Reed.

"Oh, no!" quickly returned Ketchim. "We would not sell any more stock
until we received your report--and not then, unless the report were
favorable. That would not have been right!"

Reed eyed him narrowly. But the image of truth sat enthroned upon
Ketchim's sharp features.

"It is unfortunate, boys," the promoter continued dejectedly. "But I
care nothing for my own losses; it's the poor stockholders I am
thinking about. I would do anything to relieve them. I've prayed to be
led to do right. What would you suggest?"

"I suggest," blurted out Harris, "that, having already relieved them
considerably, you'll soon be wearing a striped suit!"

The last trace of color faded from Ketchim's face, but the sickly
smile remained. "I'd wear it, willingly, if by so doing I could help
these poor people," he mournfully replied.

"Well," pursued Harris, "it'll help some when they learn that you're
in one."

"Boys," said Ketchim suddenly, quite disregarding the insinuation,
"to-morrow is Sunday, and I want you both out to dinner with me, and
we will talk this all over. Then in the afternoon I want you to come
over and see my little Sunday sc