st, a few credulous
people like Winn's aunt and two or three others who believed in Weston
bought small lots, and the men whose names appeared on the prospectus
were each and all given stock in due ratio to their prominence. And then
Simmons began his fine work. He knew, and so did Weston, that every
share they had given away would be offered for sale as soon as a price
for it had been established "on 'change" and then the scheme would fall
flat. But Simmons had ideas of his own. "We must wait," he said, "until
your man Hardy has shipped us one or two loads of granite, then herald
that fact repeatedly in the papers until the dear confiding public don't
know whether one or ten shiploads have arrived, and then--declare a
dividend!"

It was not long after, and when Winn Hardy, the honest dupe that he was,
was either zealously striving to push the Rockhaven Granite Company
interests toward success, or thinking about what fine eyes Mona Hutton
had, that the _Market News_ contained the following item:--

"The first load of granite destined for the new and palatial residence
which Richard Simmons, the well-known broker, is about to build, has
arrived. It came from the Rockhaven Granite Company's quarries on an
island they own, which produces the finest quality of building stone
obtainable."

A week later this item also appeared in the same financial sheet:--

"It is rumored that all the treasury stock of the Rockhaven Granite
Company has been subscribed for and that this enterprising corporation
is overwhelmed with orders for their excellent product. This is due to
the rapid growth of our beautiful city and the consequent demand for
building materials."

And J. Malcolm Weston, after reading them in the privacy of his office,
stroked his abundant side whiskers with an admiring caress, while a
smile of satisfaction spread over his genial face. It was the beginning
of his long-cherished ambition to pose as a great financier and it
filled his soul with joy.

"A dozen or more of such items will start the ball rolling in glorious
shape," he said to Hill, "and boom Rockhaven to beat the cards."

But Hill, the narrow-minded and close-fisted man that he was, only
looked cross, and sourly asked, "What did they cost?"

CHAPTER XV

A MATTER OF BUSINESS

As the days passed on Winn noticed that more and more interest came to
be felt in the Rockhaven Granite Company and his management. And when
the first schooner he had