Percival informed himself minutely as to the values of the different mining properties, railroad and other securities. A group of the lesser-paying mines was disposed of to an English syndicate, the proceeds being retained for the stock deal. All but the best paying of the railroad, smelting, and land-improvement securities were also thrown on the market. The experience was a valuable one to the young man, enlarging greatly his knowledge of affairs, and giving him a needed insight into the methods by which the fortune had been accumulated. "That was a slow, clumsy, old-fashioned way to make money," he declared to Coplen. "Nowadays it's done quicker." His grasp of details delighted Uncle Peter and surprised Coplen. "I didn't know but he might be getting plucked," said Coplen to the old man, "with all that money being drawn out so fast. If I hadn't known you were with him, I'd have taken it on myself to find out something about his operations. But he's all right, apparently. He had a scent like a hound for those dead-wood properties--got rid of them while we would have been making up our minds to. That boy will make his way unless I'm mistaken. He has a head for detail." "I'll make him a bigger man than his pa was yet," declared Uncle Peter. "But I wouldn't want to let on that I'd had anything to do with it. He'll think he's done it all himself, and it's right he should. It stimulates 'em. Boys of his age need just about so much conceit, and it don't do to take it out of 'em." Reports of the most encouraging character came from Burman. The deal in corn was being engineered with a riper caution than had been displayed in the ill-fated wheat deal of the spring before. "Burman's drawn close up to a million already," said Percival to Uncle Peter, "and now he wants me to stand ready for another million." "Is Burman," asked Uncle Peter, "that young fellow that had a habit of standin' pat on a pair of Jacks, and then bettin' everybody off the board?" "Yes, that was Burman." "Well, I liked his ways. I should say he could do you a whole lot of good in a corn deal." "It certainly does look good--and Burman has learned the ropes and spars. They're already calling him the 'corn-king' out on the Chicago Board of Trade." "Use your own judgment," Uncle Peter urged him. "You're the one that knows all about these things. My Lord! how you ever _do_ manage to keep things runnin' in your head gets me. If you got confidence in Burman, all I can say is--well, your pa was a fine judge of men, and I don't see why you shouldn't have the gift." "Between you and me, Uncle Peter, I _am_ a good judge of human nature, and I know this much about Burman: when he does win out he'll win big. And I think he's going to whipsaw the market to a standstill this time, for sure. Here's a little item from this morning's paper that sounds right, all along the line." "COPPER, CORN, AND CORDAGE.