amed Benson."

"His full name, please."

Clarke gave it to him, and Challoner, crossing the floor, took a book
from a shelf and turned over the pages.

"Yes; he's here. What led him to talk of the thing to an outsider?"

"Drink. I'll confess to having taken advantage of the condition he was
often in."

Challoner sat down and coolly lighted a cigar. His position seemed a
weak one, but he had no thought of surrender.

"Well, you have given me some interesting information; but there's one
thing you haven't mentioned, and that is your reason for doing so."

"Can't you guess?"

"I shouldn't have suspected you of being so diffident, but I dare say
you thought this was a chance for earning some money easily."

"Yes," said Clarke. "For five thousand pounds, I'll undertake that no
word of what I've told you will ever pass my lip's again."

"And do you suppose I'd pay five thousand pounds to see my nephew
wronged?"

"I believe you might do so to save your son." Challoner controlled his
anger, for he wished to lead the man on and learn something about his
plans.

"Out of the question!" he said briefly.

"Then I'll make you an alternative offer--and it's worth considering.
Take, or get your friends to subscribe for ten thousand pounds' worth
of shares in a commercial syndicate I'm getting up. You'll never
regret it. If you wish, I'll make you a director, so that you can
satisfy yourself that the money will be wisely spent. You'll get it
back several times over."

Challoner laughed.

"This is to salve my feelings; to make the thing look like a business
transaction?"

"Oh, no!" Clarke declared, leaning forward and speaking eagerly. "It's
a genuine offer. I'll ask your attention for a minute or two.
Canada's an undeveloped country; we have scarcely begun to tap its
natural resources, and there's wealth ready for exploitation all over
it. We roughly know the extent of the farming land and the value of
the timber, but the minerals still to a large extent await discovery,
while perhaps the most readily and profitably handled product is oil.
Now I know a belt of country where it's oozing from the soil; and with
ten thousand pounds I'll engage to bore wells that will give a
remarkable yield."

His manner was impressive, and though Challoner had no cause to trust
him he thought the man sincere.

"One understands that in Canada all natural commodities belong to the
State, and any person discovering them can