"They advise my uncle through me to sell stock in a certain company and buy in another. They told me to withdraw my money from my California bank and put it into this Universal Traction Company." "Did you do that?" "Yes." "I'm sorry. I wish you wouldn't take their advice. I wish you would put your money back where it came from at once." "Why?" "Because it scares me to think of your going into anything on my mother's advice." "But it wasn't your mother's advice. It was the advice of a great financier." "You mean a dead financier?" "Yes." He did not laugh at this; on the contrary, his face darkened. "I've heard about that. Did he advise your uncle to go into this same transportation company?" "Yes; all our friends are in it." "You mean everybody that went to my mother for advice?" "Yes." "Do many go to her for help of this kind?" "No, not many; she gives sittings only to my aunt and her friends now. There were several big business men of the city who went regularly. Why, Mr. Pettus, the president of the Traction Company, relies upon her." The absurdity of these great capitalists going to his mother's threadbare little apartment for counsel in ways to win millions made Victor smile. He said, with a mock sigh, "I wish these Voices would tell me where to find a job that would pay fifteen dollars a week." "They will--if you give yourself up to them. You must have faith." "Oh, but the whole thing is dotty. Why should a poor farmer like my grandfather by just merely dying become a great financier?" Again his brow darkened and his voice deepened with contempt. "It's all poppycock! If he knows so much about the future why didn't he warn my mother against that reporter that came in the other day to do her up? Why didn't he permit me to stay on at Winona and get my degree?" The girl was troubled by his questions and evaded them. "It must have been hard to leave in the midst of your final term." "It was punishing. It was like being yanked out of the box in the middle of an inning, with the game all coming your way." She knew enough of baseball slang to catch his meaning and she smiled as she asked, "Why don't you go back?" "Simply because I couldn't stand the chinning I'd get from my classmates." "Can't you go on with your studies here and pass your examination?" "I might do that if I could get a job that would pay me my board and leave me a little time to study." She looked up at him with smiling archness. "Why not drive an automobile? You could carry your books around under the seat and study while waiting outside the shops or the theaters." "Good idea!" he exclaimed, responding to her humor. "I'm pretty handy with the machine. One of my friends up at Winona had one. I hope you own a car." He said this with intent to indicate his growing desire to be near her. Mrs. Joyce came over at this moment to inquire what they were so jolly about.