some five or six months ago; and have since been
actively engaged in lead-mining. A great business that, Mr. Jasper."

"Ah?" This "ah?" was particularly chilling.

"There are more rapid fortunes made at the lead-mines in the
neighbourhood of Galena, at present, than in any part of the United
States," said Martin, approaching, by rapid advances, the subject
nearest to his thoughts.

"You think so?" returned Jasper, with cold incredulity.

"I know so," was the positive response. "I could point you to a dozen
men who have made their tens of thousands annually for the last five
or ten years."

"It is easy to talk about making tens of thousands, Martin; but the
fact itself is a more difficult matter."

"A fact is a fact, however, Mr. Jasper," said the other. "What is
done, is done."

"Of course."

"It is a fact that money is made at the lead-mines, hand over fist,"
continued Martin. "Of this I am prepared to give you the strongest
kind of evidence."

"Why should you be so anxious to convince me of this fact?" returned
the merchant. "I have quite as many irons in the fire now as I can see
to."

"Ah! That may be," said Martin, forcing to his rather hard features a
bland smile. "But these new irons I will keep from burning."

"It's no use, Martin, to talk of lead-mines to me," said Jasper
firmly. "I am spread out enough already. Contraction, not expansion,
is my present motto. I've met with more than one heavy loss since I
saw you."

"Have you, indeed? I'm sorry for that. But a false card will turn up
now and then, you know. The game in the long run is sure."

"We're sure of nothing," replied Jasper, with considerable feeling.

"I wouldn't like to say that. Of course, all plans will not succeed;
for man's judgment is far from possessing the virtue of infallibility.
But human reason would be a poor endowment, did it not lead us, in
most cases, to right conclusions, if we are careful in our modes of
using this high faculty."

"The purpose of your visit to the East," said Jasper, who understood
perfectly the man with whom he was dealing, and, therefore, determined
to know at once the length and breadth of what he was expected to
do, "is, I presume, to enlist some capitalists here in a lead-mining
speculation?"

"My ideas do not extend quite that far," was Martin's answer. "Too
many cooks, you are aware, sometimes spoil the broth. To come to the
point at once, let me explain the purpose of my present journey t