After the meetin' was over, the moderator says to Jones, "Brother Jones," he says, "what did you say to Brother Smith to-night that shut him up so quick?" "I ast him fer a dollar for For'n Missions," says Brother Jones, 'an', wa'al,' I says to Tenaker, 'that's what I done to Staples.'" "Did Mr. Tenaker see the point?" asked John, laughing. "He laughed a little," said David, "but didn't quite ketch on till I told him about the subscription paper, an' then he like to split." "Suppose Staples had taken you up," suggested John. "Wa'al," said David, "I didn't think I was takin' many chances. If, in the fust place, I hadn't knowed Staples as well 's I did, the Smith fam'ly, so fur 's my experience goes, has got more members 'n any other fam'ly on top of the earth." At this point a boy brought in a telegram. David opened it, gave a side glance at his companion, and, taking out his pocketbook, put the dispatch therein. CHAPTER XLII. The next morning David called John into the rear room. "Busy?" he asked. "No," said John. "Nothing that can't wait." "Set down," said Mr. Harum, drawing a chair to the fire. He looked up with his characteristic grin. "Ever own a hog?" he said. "No," said John, smiling. "Ever feel like ownin' one?" "I don't remember ever having any cravings in that direction." "Like pork?" asked Mr. Harum. "In moderation," was the reply. David produced from his pocketbook the dispatch received the day before and handed it to the young man at his side. "Read that," he said. John looked at it and handed it back. "It doesn't convey any idea to my mind," he said. "What?" said David, "you don't know what 'Bangs Galilee' means? nor who 'Raisin' is?" "You'll have to ask me an easier one," said John, smiling. David sat for a moment in silence, and then, "How much money have you got?" he asked. "Well," was the reply, "with what I had and what I have saved since I came I could get together about five thousand dollars, I think." "Is it where you c'n put your hands on't?" John took some slips of paper from his pocketbook and handed them to David. "H'm, h'm," said the latter. "Wa'al, I owe ye quite a little bunch o' money, don't I? Forty-five hunderd! Wa'al! Couldn't you 'a' done better 'n to keep this here at four per cent?" "Well," said John, "perhaps so, and perhaps not. I preferred to do this at all events." "Thought the old man was _safe_ anyway, didn't ye?" said David in a tone which showed that he was highly pleased. "Yes," said John. "Is this all?" asked David. "There is some interest on those certificates, and I have some balance in my account," was the reply; "and then, you know, I have some very valuable securities--a beautiful line of mining stocks, and that promising Pennsylvania property."