ount, and his son drove one to its destination, making
thereby extra time. Before the seventy tons had been delivered, the
remainder was bespoken. They found when it had all been disposed of, and
their workmen paid, that they had counted very closely, but there was a
small balance on hand. This was deposited in the bank as a nucleus for a
co-operative store as soon as there might be sufficient capital to
warrant it. This, at least, had been a success. So many of the poorer
class of Yerbury were not able to pay for the last ton of coal until
they ordered again, being always that much behind.

Yardley was quite jubilant over his scheme.

"You forget that in this you and Hurd have received nothing for your
trouble," said Darcy. "Then," smilingly, "you have no bad debts to count
out. Still only a philanthropist can do business this way. If you were
the proprietor of a coal-yard, you could not afford it."

"I think I have something for my trouble, Mr. Darcy," the man answered
proudly. "I have saved ten dollars on my four tons of coal, and that
surely pays me."

They were doing moderately well at the mill. Several orders had come in
from old buyers; and now Winston started out on a travelling tour, being
admirably fitted for that part of the business. At the West he managed
to talk two large wool-dealers into a trade; they taking cloth of
various grades in exchange, and disposing of it to the best of their
ability.

"A regular old-fashioned barter," he wrote to Maverick. "It took a good
deal of talking, to be sure, but I'm never the worse for that. They were
pleased to get a fair price for their wool, and I lost nothing on my
cloth. It clears out the stock, and keeps the men busy."

Indeed, Hope Mills was doing a great thing for Yerbury. There was a
brisker air on the streets, a kind of inspiring music in the whir and
clatter, that spoke of food and warmth and raiment. Good feeling and
sympathy had been touched; and though some of the workmen, who were
harassed by back debts, looked rather ruefully at their small weekly
pittance, still it was so much better than no money and no employment.

At the Darcys they held what Sylvie laughingly called "symposiums." The
churches were organizing their winter work, for there would be need
enough. The few who had found employment merely made a ripple on the
surface. Some who had stretched out their scanty means the past year now
found themselves penniless. Others had tramped about