a cent and once they grasp a dollar it passes out of
circulation."

"I am surprised Hardy landed this man Hutton for five hundred," said
Hill, "and so early in the game."

"I am also," replied Weston, "and if I felt sure that Hardy could be
trusted with our plans, I would tell him what our next move is, but I am
not. The trouble with him is, he is too honest, and when we begin to
throw out bait in the way of advance dividends, he will suspect our game
and I am not sure how he will take it."

"Do not think of that yet," replied Hill, "so long as we keep all the
cards in our own hands, we know where the joker is, but never
afterward."

"I am a good mind to take a ran down to Rockhaven," continued Weston
meditatively, "and get better acquainted with this old duffer Hutton and
the rest. Also make some of them a present of a little stock, just to
interest them. It's the way to catch mackerel and those few shares will
return us good results when we declare a dividend."

"Better not," replied the more cautious of the two, "those old fishermen
are not fools, and will conclude that if you are willing to give stock
away, it's of no value. When we do pay a dividend this Hutton will not
keep it a secret and Hardy can then reap the harvest. Besides, he and
his honesty must be considered. It won't do to alarm him. He believes
the scheme is legitimate, and as he has a finger in the pie, will work
for his own end and sell all the stock he can. What I should advise is
that we notify him the price is now two dollars per share and let that
leaven work as it will. How much stock have we sold already?"

"About six thousand shares," replied Weston, "counting that bought by
Hardy."

"And two per cent on the par value of that," continued Hill, figuring on
a slip of paper, "would be twelve hundred dollars. I think one per cent
enough as a starter and that we should pay it now."

"No," replied the more liberal Weston, "it's not best to pinch in the
matter of chum, as the fishermen say, and do things by halves. If we
must bait them now let us bait them well."

And bait them well they did, for the next day's issue of the _Market
News_ contained the following:--

"It is with pleasure we announce that the Rockhaven Granite Company has
declared a dividend of two per cent on the par value of the stock,
payable at the office of Weston & Hill. As we stated a short time ago in
these columns, this well-known and reliable firm, whose enterprise