am, his tone a mixture of wonder and admiration,
"I don't see how you dast to talk back to him like that, Ros. He'll sic
the--the 'System' onto you, won't he?"

It was evident that Sam had been reading the magazines.

I heard no more from Captain Jed and nothing from the mysterious
"Development Company" for the remainder of that week. But on Sunday, as
I sat in the boat house, smoking my after dinner pipe and reading, Lute
excitedly entered, followed by a well-dressed, smooth-shaven man of
middle age, whom he introduced as Mr. Keene of Boston, "who's driven all
the way from Ostable a-purpose to see you, Ros."

Mr. Keene shook hands with me cordially and apologized for intruding
upon my day of rest. He intended returning to the city in the morning,
he said, and, as he had a little matter to discuss with me, had taken
the liberty of calling. "I shan't take more than half an hour of your
time, Mr. Paine," he explained. "At least I feel certain that you and I
can reach an agreement in that period. If I might be alone with you--"

This hint, evidently intended for Lute's benefit, was quite lost upon
the last named individual, who had seated himself on the edge of the
work bench and was listening with both ears. I was obliged to tell
him that his presence was superfluous and request his returning to the
house, which he reluctantly did, moving slowly and looking back with
an expression of grieved disappointment. After he had gone I asked Mr.
Keene what his "little matter" might be.

His reply was prompt and to the point. He gave me his card. He was, it
seemed, junior partner in the firm of Barclay and Keene, real estate
brokers and promoters, Milk Street, Boston. And, just now, he was acting
as representative of the Bay Shore Development Company. "A concern of
which, in spite of all our precautions and attempts at secrecy, you may,
perhaps, have heard, Mr. Paine," he added, smiling.

I admitted that I had heard rumors concerning the company's existence.
But, except for these very vague rumors, I knew nothing about it.

He expected that, he said, and was glad to give me further and complete
information. In fact, that was his reason for coming so many miles to
see me. If I would be good enough to listen he would tell me just what
the Bay Shore Company was and what it contemplated doing.

I listened and he talked. According to him the Bay Shore syndicate--that
is what it was, a syndicate of capitalists--represented one of