cared nothing for money beyond the simple comforts of
life which it afforded, was perhaps another inscrutable reason why he
was permitted during the course of the next eight years to add two more
rich mines to his possessions.

At thirty-eight he owned four mines, the possession of any one of which
would have caused the average man to see visions. For example, Dick
would have regarded Colonel Van Ashton's fortune, handsome though it
was, as mere loose change in his pocket.

But this modern young Croesus was not unworthy of the fortune that
had been showered upon him so bountifully as the majority of men who
acquire great wealth invariably become. He not only constantly strove to
improve his mind, but maintained a pension-roll and list of public
charities and beneficiaries that would have done credit to a small
European Principality. In short, he thoroughly realized what the
responsibility of great wealth entailed.

True to his supersensitive nature and fastidious taste, he always
dressed in the height of fashion. This was the only extravagance he
allowed himself which, considering his fortune, was reasonable enough.

Experience had taught him that the majority of men and women were fakirs
pure and simple, whose chief motives were prompted solely by
self-interest; and any suggestion to reform the world he invariably
greeted with laughter. In fact, the world in his opinion, was not worth
reforming; yet, in spite of this melancholy truth, he had remained human
to the core, and took a live interest in that world of men which he knew
to be nothing more nor less than a great gamble. And therein lay the
chief distinction between him and Captain Forest, for they were
otherwise strangely alike. Dick was still more or less interested in
molding the clay--the Captain had done with it. Possibly because the
latter had fallen heir to that which Dick had acquired through effort
and, therefore, set less store upon it.

There were few countries which he had not visited. After making his
first rich strike, he attempted to settle in New York, but was unable to
do so. To use his own words, "he was only able to sit down, but there
wasn't room enough for him to stretch his arms and legs."

During his travels he had collected numerous works of art; tapestries,
paintings, marbles and bronzes by the best modern masters, which he
placed in a beautiful Spanish _hacienda_ especially designed by one of
the foremost architects of the day. The