When he learned that he was to visit his aunt and uncle in New York he decided to put into operation a plan he had long had in mind; ever since, in fact, he got the thousand dollars damages which were paid to him and his chums by Mr. Ricka, as told in the first volume of this "Darewell Chums Series." Mr. Wilding, after much solicitation on Ned's part, had allowed his son to take one hundred dollars of the money to invest in any way he saw fit, subject to certain restrictions. "I'll not let you buy gold bricks with it, of course," Mr. Wilding had said, "and I advise you not to invest it in alleged counterfeit money or 'green goods.' But anything else in reason you may do. It's your first real business venture, and it will be good for you to learn by experience. I had to when I was a boy." "How about buying oil stock?" Ned had asked. "I have been reading that up lately." Mr. Wilding smiled behind the paper he was reading. "I warned you against gold bricks," he said. "Oh, but this is a legitimate oil business," Ned replied. "The company advertises in the best magazines, and is only selling stock low for a few days. By February first it is going to five dollars a share. It's only fifty cents now. Why, they have testimonials from prominent men, and an expert writes that the oil wells of the Mt. Olive concern are the richest ever seen. They have one well that runs a hundred barrels a day and they haven't it half bored yet." "Ned," said Mr. Wilding, and he spoke a little gravely, "I'm not going to stand in your way. I've allowed you to take that hundred dollars to invest as you please. Now I'm not going to advise you. If I did I might as well invest the money myself. I want you to learn to be a business man and the best way to learn is by experience, though it isn't always the easiest way. If you want to buy stock in that oil company do so. If you get 'bitten' you do so with your eyes open." "Don't you think it's a good investment, father?" "I'm not going to say. Sometimes those concerns pay well, and again they do not. It's an operation such as business men enter into every day, and in this case, as far as you are concerned, it is legitimate, since you are going to buy the stock outright, and not speculate in it by buying on a margin. As I said, I will not advise you. Buy that stock if you want to, and I'll say nothing which ever way the cat jumps. It's your money and you will have to foot the bill. I wouldn't risk more than a hundred dollars though." "That will give me two hundred shares at fifty cents each," Ned replied, figuring on the back of an envelope. "If it goes to five dollars a share I'll make nine hundred dollars profit. That would be fine!" "So you've decided to buy it, eh?" "I think so. I'll get it when I go to New York to Uncle Kenfield's house." "Very well, Ned. You may do so. Only remember one thing, just repeat to yourself that old proverb about counting your chickens before they're hatched."