"Yes. Put those decanters over here, and some glasses, please." "Yes, sir." The man obeyed and withdrew. Kellogg filled two glasses, handing one to Duncan. "Now be decent and listen to me, Nat. I've thought this thing over for--oh, any amount of time. I'll bet anything it will work. What d'you say? Would you like to try it?" "Would I like to try it?" A conviction of Kellogg's earnestness forced itself upon Duncan's understanding. "Would I--!" He lifted his glass and drained it at a gulp. "Why, that's the first laugh I've had for a month!" "Then I'll tell you--" Duncan placed a pleading hand on his forearm. "Don't kid me, Harry," he entreated. "Not a bit of it. This is straight goods. If you want to try it and will follow the rules I lay down, I'll guarantee you'll be a rich man inside of twelve months." "Rules! Man, I'll follow all the rules in the world! Come on--I'm getting palpitation of the heart, waiting. Tell it to me: what've I got to do?" "Marry," said Kellogg serenely. "Marry!" Duncan echoed, aghast. "Marry," reaffirmed the other with unbroken gravity. "Marry--who?" "A girl with a fortune.... You see, I can't guarantee the precise size of her pile. That all depends on luck and the locality. But it'll run anywhere from several hundred thousand up to a million--perhaps more." Duncan sank back despondently. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Harry," he said dully; "you had me all excited, for a minute." "No, but honestly, I mean what I say." "Now look here: do you really think any girl with a million would take a chance on me?" "She'll jump at it." Duncan thought this over for a while. Then his lips twitched. "What's the matter with her?" he inquired. "I'm willing to play the game as it lies, but I bar lunatics and cripples." "There's no particular her--yet. You can take your pick. I've no more idea where she is than you have." "Now I know you're stark, staring, gibbering----" "Not a bit of it. I'm inspired--that's all. I've solved your problem--you only can't believe it." "How could I? What the devil are you getting at, anyhow?" "This pet scheme of mine. Lend me your ears. Have you ever lived in a one-horse country town--a place with one unspeakable hotel and about twenty stores and five churches?" "No ..." "I have; I was born in one of 'em.... Have you any idea what becomes of the young people of such towns?" "Not a glimmering." "Then I'll enlighten your egregious density. ...The boys--those who've got the stuff in them--strike out for the cities to make their everlasting fortunes. Generally they do it, too." "The same as you."