that the Springs was
decadent. A third of the population had moved away. Business--and the
Colonel was an authority on business--had dwindled to nothing. After
carefully studying the field of opportunities open to capital he had
sold his little property there for eight hundred dollars and invested
it in one of the enterprises opened up by the book in Okochee.

"Might I inquire, sir," said Mr. Bloom, "in what particular line of
business you inserted your coin? I know that town as well as I know
the regulations for illegal use of the mails. I might give you a hunch
as to whether you can make the game go or not."

J. Pinkney, somehow, had a kindly feeling toward these unsophisticated
representatives of by-gone days. They were so simple, impractical, and
unsuspecting. He was glad that he happened not to have a gold brick or
a block of that western Bad Boy Silver Mine stock along with him. He
would have disliked to unload on people he liked so well as he did
these; but there are some temptations toe enticing to be resisted.

"No, sir," said Colonel Blaylock, pausing to arrange the queen's wrap.
"I did not invest in Okochee. I have made an exhaustive study of
business conditions, and I regard old settled towns as unfavorable
fields in which to place capital that is limited in amount. Some
months ago, through the kindness of a friend, there came into my hands
a map and description of this new town of Skyland that has been built
upon the lake. The description was so pleasing, the future of the town
set forth in such convincing arguments, and its increasing prosperity
portrayed in such an attractive style that I decided to take advantage
of the opportunity it offered. I carefully selected a lot in the
centre of the business district, although its price was the highest in
the schedule--five hundred dollars--and made the purchase at once."

"Are you the man--I mean, did you pay five hundred dollars for a lot in
Skyland" asked J. Pinkney Bloom.

"I did, sir," answered the Colonel, with the air of a modest
millionaire explaining his success; "a lot most excellently situated on
the same square with the opera house, and only two squares from the
board of trade. I consider the purchase a most fortuitous one. It is
my intention to erect a small building upon it at once, and open a
modest book and stationery store. During past years I have met with
many pecuniary reverses, and I now find it necessary to engage in some
c