So they went about their work very secretly, hoping so to conceal their design that they would be able to get the last link at the bed-rock price; but, when the time came, entirely unexpected difficulties were encountered. The stock-holders might have been tractable enough, but the stock-holders themselves had been fooled. “Why, there was a young fellow here last week,” they explained, “and he got a sixty-day option on enough stock to control the road.” “Who was he?” asked the startled Colonel Babington. “His name is Horace Lake,” they told him. “I’ll have to look Horace up,” remarked the colonel thoughtfully. Meanwhile, Horace was congratulating himself on having done a good stroke of business, and further amusing himself by figuring his possible profit. “I’ve been looking for just such a chance as this,” he told Dave Murray, the insurance man. “Have you got the money to carry it through?” asked the practical Murray. “I had enough to put up a small forfeit to bind the option and convince them that I mean business, and I don’t need any more,” returned Lake. “Once in a great while,” said Murray, “a man makes a good lot of money on a bluff, but even then he usually has some backing. It takes money to make money, as a general rule. You will find that most successful men, even those who are noted for their nervy financiering, got the basis of their fortunes by hard work and rigid economy. Wind may be helpful, but it makes a poor foundation.” “This is one of the times when it is about all that is necessary,” laughed Lake. “I got a little inside information about the Interurban Traction Company’s plans in time to secure an option on one link in its chain of roads, and it has simply got to do business with me before it can make its line complete. For twenty thousand dollars, paid any time within sixty days, I can control the blooming little line, and the option to buy at that price is going to cost the traction company just twenty-five thousand dollars, which will be clear profit for me.” “It sounds nice,” admitted Murray, “but, if I were in your place, I’d feel a good deal better if I had the money to make good. If they don’t buy, you lose your forfeit, which represents every cent you could scrape up.” “They will buy,” asserted Lake confidently. “They may think it cheaper to parallel your line,” suggested Murray. “I’m not worrying,” returned Lake confidently. “I’m just waiting for them to come and see me, and they’ll come.” Lake’s prophecy proved correct. They came—at least Colonel Babington came, he being the active manager of the company’s affairs. But Colonel Babington first took the precaution to learn all he could of Horace Lake’s financial standing and resources. This convinced him that it was what he termed a “hold-up,” but, even so, it was better to pay a reasonable bonus than to have a fight. “We will give you,” said Colonel Babington, “a thousand dollars for your option on the majority stock of the Bington road.”