game with him. And now, at
the critical moment, he was to face about, and say; "I do not like the
game. I do not approve of your life!" Such a painful thing it is to
have a higher moral code than one's friends!

If he refused, he saw that he would have to face a complete break; he
could not go on living in the world to which he had been introduced.
Fifty thousand had seemed an enormous fee, yet even a week or two had
sufficed for it to come to seem inadequate. He would have to have many
such fees, if they were to go on living at their present rate; and if
Alice were to have a social career, and entertain her friends. And to
ask Alice to give up now, and retire, would be even harder than to face
his brother here in the cab.

Then came the temptation. Life was a battle, and this was the way it
was being fought. If he rejected the opportunity, others would seize
it; in fact, by refusing, he would be handing it to them. This great
man, whoever he might be, who was manipulating stocks for his own
convenience--could anyone in his senses reject a chance to wrench from
him some part of his spoils? Montague saw the impulse of refusal dying
away within him.

"Well?" asked his brother, finally.

"Oliver," said the other, "don't you think that I ought to know more
about it, so that I can judge?"

"You could not judge, even if I told you all," said Oliver. "It would
take you a long time to become familiar with the circumstances, as I
am. You must take my word; I know it is certain and safe."

Then suddenly he unbuttoned his coat, and took out some papers, and
handed his brother a telegram. It was dated Chicago, and read, "Guest
is expected immediately.--HENRY." "That means, 'Buy Transcontinental
this morning,'" said Oliver.

"I see," said the other. "Then the man is in Chicago?"

"No," was the reply. "That is his wife. He wires to her."

"--How much money have you?" asked Oliver, after a pause.

"I've most of the fifty thousand," the other answered, "and about
thirty thousand we brought with us."

"How much can you put your hands on?"

"Why, I could get all of it; but part of the money is mother's, and I
would not touch that."

The younger man was about to remonstrate, but Montague stopped him, "I
will put up the fifty thousand I have earned," he said. "I dare not
risk any more."

Oliver shrugged his shoulders. "As you please," he said. "You may never
have another such chance in your life."

He dropped the subjec