ar young man, do you wish to insult me? As if I would deal
in stocks that were anything but the best. I shall leave at once!" and,
puffing up like an angry toad, the colonel again turned as if to go.

"Wait!" exclaimed Simon. "I'm sure my friend Dick didn't mean anything,
Colonel. You see, he has never bought mining stocks before, and he
doesn't know much about them."

"I know enough to want to be sure they are good!" replied Dick sharply,
for he rather resented Simon's tone. "I'm not going to be swindled."

"Of course not," said the colonel, in less aggrieved tones. "I was a
little too hasty. But I can assure you, Mr. Hamilton, that these
securities are the very best of their kind. They are gilt-edged."

As he spoke he drew from his pocket a bundle of certificates which, as
far as appearances went, were "gilt-edged," for there was a broad band
of gilt all around them.

"I can let you have these for eight hundred dollars," he said; "and they
will be worth a thousand inside of a month. I would keep them myself
only I have bigger schemes on hand. I will let you have them as a
special favor, Mr. Hamilton."

Dick examined the certificates. They certainly looked just like those he
had often seen in his father's bank. They bore a number of flourishing
signatures and a printed notice to the effect that they were listed on
the New York Stock Exchange. They called for a number of shares of stock
in a Pennsylvania oil well concern.

Dick felt impelled to take them. It seemed all right, even if he did
have some lingering suspicion regarding the colonel. Still, appearances
might be against him, and certainly Simon seemed to know the man.

Dick saw a vision of his investment turning out well, so he would have
no further worry about fulfilling the conditions of the will. Once they
were met he could enjoy his new wealth.

"I think I'll take these," he said, reaching for his pocket-book, where
he carried several hundred dollars, though he had left some of his money
in the hotel safe. "I will give you part cash and a check."

"It will be a fine investment," said Colonel Dendon; but he did not say
for whom. "I can assure you, Mr. Hamilton, that I never sold such
gilt-edged securities before. I am glad----"

At that instant the door of Dick's apartments opened, and a
quietly-dressed man entered. He looked at the group of boys, noted the
bundle of stock certificates, and then his glance rested on Colonel
Dendon.

"I must ask