of yours down there the
other day, a Mrs. Somers, who always inquires about you."

"And how is she getting along these days, Francis?"

"She appears to be well. Says hard work agrees with her."

"Glad to hear good news of her. She writes me occasionally. Remember me
to her when you see her."

"Then you don't think you'll go below with me?" ("Going below" was local
parlance for going to San Francisco.)

"No. I'd feel like a fish out of water in that big city. I'll be
comfortable at the Sherwood's. I'll have to depend upon you to send me
some money occasionally."

"Hintzen writes me that he has your will locked up in his safe. I
suppose you have given him a list of your property?"

"He has written me asking for a list; but I'm not going to give him
any." If the old man had not trusted Francis so implicitly he might have
noticed an expression of relief light up that gentleman's dark eyes.

"So I handle your funds, and Hintzen holds your will," smiled Francis.
"Do you think that is fair to either of us?"

"Oh, as for the will, I've kept a copy, which you may as well look at."
And he fetched the document.

Francis read it over very carefully; and then looked up with an
expression of undisguised satisfaction.

"I'm glad you put it that way," he said. "You leave it to us to act in
accordance with our best judgment, whether it takes one year or twenty
years. That leaves us free to dispose of securities to the best
advantage, and not sacrifice them in a falling market."

"Yes, I was thinking of that investment you advised me to make a year
ago."

Francis winced a little; for the old man probably knew how low a certain
stock had fallen.

"I see you've named my brother back in Pennsylvania as one of the
executors."

"Yes; as most of my heirs live in the East, I thought your brother could
hunt them up, and let you do business through him."

"That is a good idea. But don't you think Hintzen and Haggerty ought to
have a list of your property? If you should die, and they found on
examining your books and papers that you had trusted me but not them,
why, naturally, they would feel hurt."

"Well, Haggerty's an Irishman, and Hintzen's a Dutchman. You are an
American like myself, and, what's more, a Democrat after my own heart. I
want you to hold the funds."

"If you feel that way, I wish you wouldn't tell anybody. For if they
knew I had money belonging to you people would suspect me of helping
myself to it."

F