e continued, smiling and bowing gracefully.

"A little investment," returned the visitor, nervously. "I have a little
money, left by my husband, who is at sea. I have no immediate use for
it; but want to put it where it will be entirely safe. Entirely safe,
above all things; a good dividend will not be objectionable. I am sure,
sir, you understand that--"

"Ah, madam, you shall zee. Pardon! you will enter and take one seat."
Mr. Gusher now condescended to open the gate, as he called it, bring the
little woman inside, and bid her be seated. "Ze Kidd Discovery Company,
madam, is one grand enterprise. You shall zee. And ze profit shall be so
great you will not know where to put him. For ze safety of ze
investment, (pardon, madam,) you shall accept ze honor of zis firm. O,
madam, I cannot speak ze Englis so well. If my partner is here you shall
zee he will satisfy you as ze reputation and ze honor of zis firm will
be so great. You shall invest your money, and you shall zee zat ze honor
and ze reputation of zis firm shall makes him safe." Mr. Gusher made a
low bow, and pressed his hand to his heart in confirmation of what he
had said.

A number of suspicious-looking men now entered the office and advanced
to the railing, all affecting great eagerness to purchase and pay their
money for Kidd Discovery stock. "You shall zee, mad-am," said Mr.
Gusher, extending his right hand and shrugging his shoulders, "how much
ze demand for ze stock in zat grand enterprise is. Ze rush for him is
so great ze price will be double very soon--as you shall zee."

"Don't know how my husband would like it if he was here," replied the
little woman, who had been nervously twitching and working her fingers,
now opening the satchel, then shutting it. "Leaves me money enough to
keep me comfortable when he goes away. Good provider, my husband is.
Commands a ship, he does. Says 'look ahead, my darling,' when he goes
away. 'Take good care of the coppers, darlin', don't let rogues and
thieves get them; and remember that one-half the world is hard at work
slanderin' t'other. Keep an eye t' wind'rd, darlin'. We've sailed along
smoothly enough through life together, but there may be a dismal storm
ahead. Life storms are dangerous. Here's a kiss, good little woman--good
bye.' Then he goes away, and I sees no more of him for three years.
That's a long time, sir. But he is so fond of the children, and such a
dear, good husband to me."

"Mad-am," said Gusher