r of them,
which you can use where people call in person for their
premiums."

"They'll call," said Livingstone. "'Line forms up on the right. Come
early to avoid the rush.'"

"I have sent them to you C.O.D."

Perner gaped up at the others.

"Oh, he has! He's sent them C.O.D.! Um! well, I don't think we'll use
many of those watches--not _this_ week.

"I am anxious to know, of course, just how matters are
going, and if we beat Frisby the first day. Wire me to this
address just what we did and are doing. I will be with you
in a few days more."

"We'll wire him," grunted Van Dorn. "The wire'll be so hot he'll dance
when it touches him. Beat Frisby! Oh, yes; we'll wire him!"

They did, in fact, at once, and within the hour received Barrifield's
reply. It was conveyed in a single brief word:

CHICAGO, October 27, 1897.

_To the "Whole Family," New York._

Capitalize!

(Signed)
BARRIFIELD.

Perner read it, and it was handed to each of the others in turn. Then
they looked at each other. Van Dorn said pleasantly:

"Why, yes; that's so. Capitalize! I hadn't thought of that. Stony, get
up here and capitalize!"

Livingstone dug down in his pockets and brought up fifty-six cents.

"All right," he said. "That's every nickel I've got in the world. Let's
capitalize!"

Almost immediately there came another telegram from Barrifield.

_To the "Whole Family," New York._

Don't sell any of my stock.

(Signed)
BARRIFIELD.

This promptly sent Perner off into another fit of hysterics.

"Oh, no; don't sell any of his stock!" he howled. "Don't! Don't sell any
of _his_ stock! Please don't! Sell mine!"

XVII

A TELEGRAM FROM MISS DOROTHY CASTLE OF CLEVELAND TO MR. TRUMAN
LIVINGSTONE OF NEW YORK

CLEVELAND, October 29, 1897.

_To Truman Livingstone, c/o the "Whole Family", New York._

Don't give up. Check one thousand to-day. Use it. Letter.

10 paid

(Signed)
DOROTHY.

XVIII

GRABBING AT STRAWS

Barrifield arrived three days later and began at once his effort to
secure capital. In this he was quite alone, as no one of the others made
even an attempt to produce friends of financial ability. True, the
Colonel, who was a friend of them all, and who at last knew something of
the situation, declared that he would take a very satisfactory interest
in the enterprise if the money he was expecting would but c