er of undoubted
importance had not been widely disseminated as yet. In any event, it had
not reached Toomey, who banged the door violently behind him as he
strode into the office of the hotel. His brow was dark and it did not
belie his mood. He was indignant, and with reason enough, for he had
just learned that he had dined the barber futilely, since the ingrate
had purchased elsewhere a sewing machine of a rival make.

As Toomey was about to take his accustomed seat, his glance chanced to
light upon Prentiss's distinguished back.

He stopped abruptly, staring in a surprise which passed swiftly from
incredulity to joy. "The 'Live One!' Prentiss, at last!"

If he had followed his impulse, Toomey would have cast himself headlong
upon the newcomer's prosperous bosom, for a conventional handshake
seemed inadequate to express the rapture that sent him to Prentiss's
side in a rush.

"Mr. Prentiss, as I live! Why didn't you let me know?" It did not for a
moment occur to Toomey that Prentiss was in Prouty for any other purpose
than to see him.

Roused from a slight reverie, Prentiss turned and responded vaguely:

"Why, how are you Mr.--er--"

"Toomey," supplied that person, taken somewhat aback.

"Ah, to be sure!" with instant cordiality. "And your wife?"

"She will be delighted to learn you are here. I wish you had come direct
to us."

The reply that he was going to his daughter's ranch was on his tongue's
end, but something checked it--the recollection perhaps of the singular
change which had come over Kate's face at the mention of the Toomeys'
name; instead, he expressed his appreciation of the proffered
hospitality and courteously refused.

Glad of the diversion while he was obliged to wait, Prentiss sat down in
one of the chairs Toomey drew out and listened with more or less
attention while he launched forth upon the subject of the project which
would bring manifold returns upon the original investment if it was
handled right--the inference being that he was the man to see to that.

It was the psychological moment to buy up the outstanding stock. The
finances of the town and its citizens were at the lowest ebb--on the
verge of collapse, in fact, if something did not turn up.
Furthermore--he imparted the information in a voice lowered to a
confidential pitch--he had it from a reliable source that the bank
itself had been caught in a pinch and had been obliged to transfer its
stock to a depositor to save itsel