ot even you, to invest a cent with us, though we are
ready and shall be glad to have you. As to how long I shall stay here,
that is a matter over which I have no control. I am only a manager for
the company. I own some of the stock and draw a fair salary, and if this
quarry pays (and I shall do my best to make it) I may stay here for
life."

"Is this here Weston wuth a good deal o' money," queried Jess in
response, "an' what sort o' man is he reckoned in the city? Is he
counted as square an' honest, or a sharper?"

"So far as I know," responded Winn, "he is an honorable business man;
and although this quarrying company is like any other enterprise--a
venture--I do not think Mr. Weston would have gone into it unless he
felt sure of making money."

Jess asked a good many other questions which, with their answers, not
being pertinent to the thread of this narrative, need not be quoted.
When Winn left him that night, after he had gone over in detail all he
knew regarding Weston & Hill and their business, it was with the feeling
that he had conquered Rockhaven and its oracle without an effort. He
little realized that a far more subtile influence than dividends had
interested Jess Hutton, and a desire to conserve matters to the end that
Mona might be made the happier, was the motive force that governed him.

"I've noticed," he said a little later to Mrs. Hutton, "that this young
man sorter takes to Mona n' she kinder cottons to him. I think it 'ud be
a good idee if ye'd jest caution her not to be free with him 'n' kinder
hold herself off as it were. These city chaps have a winnin' way with
'em to a gal, n' I'd hate to see her git a heartache out on't." He did
not tell Mrs. Hutton he had bought five hundred shares of Rockhaven
stock and insisted that Winn also keep the matter a secret.

A week later Winn received the following missive from Jack Nickerson,
only a portion of which it is necessary to quote.

"... I hear," he wrote, "that you have captured an island and are
sending it here in shiploads according to the _Market News_ (two
clippings of which I enclose). They show the fine Italian hand of Weston
or Simmons. I hope you are enjoying yourself and drawing your per annum
with promptness and regularity. The street is growing curious as to what
deep-laid scheme Weston & Hill are preparing to spring upon it, and
Rockhaven stock is not as yet selling to any extent. I saw the gay and
festive Weston out driving yesterday