on the sunny veranda one afternoon in a sort of doze.
Other convalescent patients were near him, and he had been listening,
rather idly, to their talk. He was startled to hear one man say:

"Well, I'd have been all right, and I could have my own automobile now,
if I hadn't been foolish enough to speculate in oil stocks."

"What kind did you buy?" another patient asked.

"Oh, one of those advertised so much--they made all sorts of claims for
it, and I was simple enough to believe them. I put every cent I had
saved up in the Circle City Oil Syndicate, and now I can whistle for my
cash--just when I need it too, with hospital and doctor bills to pay."

"Can't you get any of it back?"

"I don't think so. In fact I'd sell my stock now for a dollar a share
and be glad to get it. I paid twenty-five. Well, it can't be helped."

Joe looked up and looked over at the speaker. He was a middle-aged
man, and he recognized him as a patient who had come in for treatment
for rheumatism.

Joe wondered whether he had heard aright.

"The Circle City Oil Syndicate," mused Joe. "That's the one Helen has
her money in--or, rather, the one that San ford put her money in for
her. I wonder if it can be the same company. I must find out, and if
it is----"

Joe did not know just what he would do. What he had overheard caused
him to be vaguely uneasy. His old suspicions came back to him.

CHAPTER XXII

BAD NEWS

Joe Strong waited until he had a chance to speak privately to the man
who had admitted losing money in oil stocks. This hospital patient was
a Mr. Anton Buchard, and his room was not far from Joe's.

"Excuse me," began the young trapeze performer in opening the talk.
"But a short time ago I happened to overhear what you were telling your
friend about some oil stocks--the Circle City Syndicate. I didn't mean
to listen, but I couldn't help hearing what you were saying."

"Oh, don't let that part worry you," said Mr. Buchard. "It's no secret
that I lost my money in that wild-cat speculation. But are you
interested in it?"

"To a certain extent I am," Joe answered.

"I hope you didn't buy any of the worthless stock."

"No, but a friend of mine was induced to. That is--er--she--she has
some stock of the Circle City Oil Syndicate. It may not be the same as
that you were speaking of."

"No, that is true. There are many oil concerns in the market, and lots
of them are legitimate, and are making money. Bu