“The smartest men will sometimes make strange breaks, I’ve heard,” said Jack. “I believe Hartz wanted to do me a favor for that affair of Bird in his office; but I doubt if he really would have given me such a tip nine hundred and ninety-nine times of out of a thousand, for business reasons, you know.” “You bought seven hundred shares of D. & G. at sixty-three. What is it to-day?” she asked anxiously. “Last quotation when the Exchange closed at noon was eighty-one.” “Eighty-one!” exclaimed Millie. “A gain of eighteen points in less than six days! Why, you crazy boy, why don’t you sell?” “Because I expect it will go to ninety--to three figures, for that matter. Hartz’s corners are almost uniformly successful, I have heard.” “You foolish boy! They may quietly unload at any moment.” “I don’t think they will until the stock goes above ninety.” “Why?” she asked with astonished eyes. “I couldn’t explain to you, Millie, just why I believe so. I’ve been studying the ground. I’ve even found out several of the people Hartz has got in with him. Every one of them can write his check for a million, lose it, and not miss the loss.” “Why, how could you get such inside information?” “Simply by having something definite to start with--that was Hartz--and then by using my eyes, my ears, and my brains.” “Jack, you are either a wonder, or----” She didn’t complete the sentence. “Or a chump, eh?” he said, with a light laugh. “I intend to hold out for ninety-two, if the stock goes that high, as I feel sure it will, and over. That will return me a profit of twenty thousand dollars, which, added to my original capital, will make me worth twenty-five thousand dollars.” “Pretty good for a boy of----” “I was seventeen three months ago.” “Well, Jack, I earnestly hope that you will come out all right. But you are taking a terrible risk, and I shall be nervous till I know you have won out.” “It is understood I am to call for you to-morrow, is it?” “Yes, Jack, it is.” So Millie went to the Hazard flat next day and was introduced to Jack’s mother and sister, who were much pleased with her pretty face and sunny disposition. Ed came in soon after dinner, and the two boys and the two girls started up to the Bronx, where they spent a pleasant afternoon, wandering about with an occasional eye to a desirable vacant house that had the sign “For Sale” attached. “This is something like counting one’s chickens before they’re hatched, isn’t it,” said Jack, after they had inspected one very pretty place which seemed to answer all expectations. “I like this house; don’t you, Annie?” “Very much, indeed.” “Well, if things continue to come my way, I’ll come up toward the end of the week, maybe, and put a deposit on it.” “What’s the matter with doing it to-morrow?” chipped in Ed. “You’ve got five thousand dollars stowed away in the Citizens’ Bank. What do you want to wait for?”