“Yes,” Ben replied. “And ’most every man is fierce to down every other one. It’s just like a big school. You despise the bullies and sneaks, of course, but you’ve got to look out for them. I don’t mean to leave a crack for a rascal to get the better of me in this business. I’d rather make forty blunders myself than to have some one jam me in the door.” “Don’t you wish you knew whether you could get it or not?” “Yes. First ‘catch your hare.’ Thunder! I wish I didn’t have to wait till to-morrow. Waiting’s the hardest thing in the world!” The cousins slowly walked back on the beach where they had raced a half-hour before. “I’ll let you know just as soon as I can,” Ben said at parting. “You gave me the idea, and who knows what’ll come of it?” CHAPTER II THE PURCHASE “I’d like to speak to you on a matter of business.” Ben’s face flushed in spite of the effort he made to look unconcerned, and it vexed him that his voice trembled. The old man addressed surveyed the boyish figure before him. “Business?” he questioned. “Yes. It’s about the Works.” “Well, what about ’em?” “I should think there’d be a good deal of lumber in the frame and bricks in the chimney.” “Yes, I s’pose there is; but what’s that to you?” “I want to know what you’ll take for the whole concern as it stands? I suppose the lease you’ve got won’t run forever.” “No, I guess it won’t.” Mr. Madge meditated for a moment. He needed money badly, to finish a pet tunnel in his “Bonanza Princess” mine. The sum that Ben could give would be a small one, he knew, but it would be better than nothing. As for the lease--“The leas’ said about that the better,” he said to himself, with a chuckle at his own wit. He sat down on a pile of boards and motioned to Ben to take a seat beside him. Then he hung his hooked cane on his left arm. “How much’d you have left after your father’s affairs was settled up? Must’ve been quite a tidy little sum, I reckon.” Ben had resolved not to furnish any information in regard to his finances, unless obliged to do so. “There wasn’t much left, after the debts were paid,” he replied. “Didn’t he give you all he had ’fore he died?” “Yes. There wasn’t any one else to leave it to, except my cousin, Beth Morton; and my father knew that if he left her anything, Mr. Hodges would take it.” “And you don’t mean to tell me ’t you paid his debts outen it, when you wasn’t obliged to!” “Every last one of them!” the boy said with emphasis. “Well, Ben Ralston, you are an odd stick!” He regarded his cane with a speculative air, as though he were comparing it with Ben. “Guess I must be gittin’ along hom’ards, now,” he added, as he slowly rose. Ben was busily speculating upon his intentions. “The old sharper means to find out exactly how much money I’ve got, and then make a stand to get it all,” he thought. He instantly decided to furnish the information himself.