"Henry," he said, "I wish you'd lend me ten dollars." "What for?" "I want to buy one more ticket." "I can't lend it." "I should think you might. If I don't get anything this time I'll never buy again." "I can't oblige you, Sam." "You mean you won't," said Sam, sulkily. "No; it happens to be true that I can't." "Haven't you thirty-five dollars in the savings-bank?" "I had." "You haven't spent the money?" "I have invested it." "How?" "I've given the book to my employer as security to pay interest on a loan." Then, seeing that Sam's curiosity was aroused, he proceeded to explain that he had borrowed five hundred dollars of his employer to pay for a share in a mercantile venture. "Do you think you'll make any money out of it?" asked Sam, eagerly. "I hope to." "About how much?" "Perhaps I may make a hundred dollars." "I wish I had that much." "I suppose you would buy ten lottery tickets," suggested Henry, smiling. Sam admitted he should invest a part that way. "I prefer to invest my money in legitimate business," said Henry. "I don't know about that," said Sam. "I might have drawn the twenty-thousand-dollar prize. That's better than a hundred dollars." "So it is; but if I keep on I have a good deal better chance of getting up to twenty thousand dollars than you." "I wish my boss would lend me five hundred dollars," said Sam. "I wouldn't advise him to," said Henry, smiling. "Now let us go to breakfast." CHAPTER XIII. HENRY'S GOOD FORTUNE. Three months passed. To Henry Martin they passed very satisfactorily. At his new rate of payment he was able to lay up two dollars a week without denying himself anything absolutely necessary to his comfort. At the end of this period, therefore, he had twenty-six dollars on deposit in a new savings-bank. Of his venture he had heard nothing. He remained perfectly easy about this, however, knowing that in due time he would hear from it. Mr. Hamilton, he observed, took more notice of him than formerly. He frequently greeted him, in passing through to his office, with a pleasant word or smile; and Henry felt justified in concluding that he was in favor with him. It was after the interval of time already mentioned that he again received a summons to the counting-room. Mr. Hamilton had a long paper before him closely filled with figures. "Sit down. Henry," he said. "Thank you, sir." "You remember our conversation three months since, I suppose?" "Yes, sir; perfectly." "You consented to take a share in a venture was sending out to Rotterdam?" "Yes, sir." "I have just received a statement of it, and, you are interested, I have called you in to let you know how it has turned out." "Thank you, sir," said Henry, eagerly. "I find that, after deducting all expenses, your share of the profits will amount to one hundred dollars." "One hundred dollars!" exclaimed Henry, in astonishment and delight. "Yes. I think we have been very successful."