the truth, I never
'spected ter. It's been most a year now since yer boss landed here and
bought my ledge o' stun, and I've made up my mind he did it jist fer
fun, 'n' havin' money ter throw 'way. Hev a cheer, won't ye?" And
stepping inside he brought one out.

Winn seated himself, and glancing down at the row of small, brown houses
and sheds that fringed the harbor shore below them, and then across to
where the ledge of granite faced them, replied, "Oh, Mr. Weston is not
the man to throw away money, but it takes time to organize a company and
get ready to operate a quarry;" and pausing to draw from an inside
pocket a red pocketbook, and extracting a crisp bit of paper, he added,
"the first duty, Mr. Hutton, is to pay the balance due you, and here is
a check to cover it."

Jess eyed it curiously.

"It's good, I guess," he said as he looked it over, "but out here we
don't use checks; it's money down or no trade."

Then without more words he arose, and limping a little as he entered the
store, handed Winn a long, yellow envelope. "Here's the deed; an' the
quarry's yourn, an' ye kin begin blasting soon's ye like."

"I cannot do anything for a few days," replied Winn, "for the tools and
machinery have not yet arrived, and in the meantime I must look about
and hire some men. In this matter I must ask you to aid me, and in
fact, I must ask your help in many ways."

"I'll do what I kin," answered Jess, "an' it won't be hard ter git men.
Most on 'em here ain't doin' more'n keepin' soul an' body together
fishin' an'll jump at the chance o' airnin' fair wages quarryin'.

"Where did yer put up, if I may ask? I heerd last night a stranger had
fetched in on the steamer."

"I found lodging with a Mrs. Moore," answered Winn; "the boat's skipper
showed me where she lived; and now, if you will be good enough, I would
like to have you show me the quarry and then I will look around for men
to work it."

"Ye don't come here cac'latin' to waste much time," observed Jess,
smiling, "but as fer hirin' men, ye best let me do it."

"I should be grateful if you will," answered Winn, "I feel I must ask
you to aid me in many ways. What we want," he continued, having in mind
his instructions, "is to establish a permanent and paying industry here,
and enlist the interest of those who have means to invest. We want to
make it a sort of cooeperative business, as it were."

"I don't quite ketch yer drift," replied Jess.

"I mean," respond