got 'em at sixty-five, Lois?"

"The bank only lent on them at that, and there was no market for them
out there. What's going to become of that road?"

Amzi glanced toward the empty counting-room where a single clerk was
sealing the mail.

"Tom's trying to save it. And I've been buying those things myself at
seventy."

"You think it's a good buy at that? Going to clean up something out of
it?"

Amzi flushed, and moved uneasily in his seat.

"No. That's not just the way of it. I don't want to make any money out
of it; neither does Tom. We're trying to protect the honest people
around here at home who put their money into that scheme. Sam and Bill
Holton made a big play for small investors, and a lot of people put
their savings into it--the kind o' folks who scrimp to save a dollar a
week. Tom's trying to sift out the truth about the building of the line,
and if he can force the surrender of the construction company's graft
over and above the fair cost of the road, Sycamore will be all right.
Your bonds are good, I think. People have been up in the air over the
rumors, and anxious to sell at any price. What I'm doing, Lois, as far
as I'm able--"

He fidgeted uneasily, seemingly reluctant to disclose just what he was
doing.

"Well," she said impatiently.

"I'm picking up all I can from these little fellows--farmers, widows,
and so on, and if Tom works out his scheme and the bonds are good, I'm
going to let them have them back. That's all," he ended shamefacedly;
and added, as though such a piece of quixotism required justification to
a woman who had rolled up a fortune and was therefore likely to be
critical of business methods, "I suppose I'd be entitled to interest."

"I suppose you would, you gay Napoleon of finance!" She looked at him
musingly with good humor and affection in her fine eyes.

"I sort o' like this old town, Lois, and I don't want any harm to come
to the folks--particularly these little fellows that don't know how to
take care of themselves."

"Is Tom animated by the same philanthropic motives, or is he going to
get a fee for his work?"

"Oh, he'll get paid all right. It's different with Tom."

"I suppose so. He ought to have a good fee if he can straighten out that
tangle. But, Amzi--" She hesitated a moment, then began again more
deliberately. "If you're getting more of those bonds than you want, you
might buy some with my money--I mean with a view to taking care of these
home investo