"Oh, I'm not going to hurt you," sneered Simon. "No, I don't think it would be exactly healthy," remarked Dick. "Is he a very valuable dog?" Simon went on, paying no further attention to Grit. "Well, he's rated at a thousand dollars in the records of the Kennel Club," answered Dick. "I don't know that any dog is worth so much from a financial standpoint, but I know I wouldn't sell him for that; would I, Grit?" and the bulldog almost wagged his stump of a tail off in delight at Dick's caressing words. "Humph! I'd look at a thousand dollars a good while before I'd give it for a dog," cried Simon. "You don't know Grit," was Dick's quiet answer, as he turned away. "Come on, Guy," said Simon, a little later. "I'm going to clear out of here." "What for? Let's have some more ice-cream. It's bully." "No," replied Simon, shortly. "I've got a scheme on for making some money out of Dick, and taking him down a peg. I owe him something for spoiling that bond sale." "But he didn't spoil it," replied Guy, who, in spite of certain mean traits of character, was inclined to be fair. "Besides, you wouldn't have sold Dick worthless bonds, would you?" "How was I to know they were worthless?" asked Simon, with a short laugh. "He has to take chances in this world. But this time there'll be no slip-up. Come on, I've got to see a man to-night." As the two walked from the tent, where the merry-making was still going on, Guy saw something dangling from Simon's pocket. It looked like a small black snake. "What's that?" he asked, in some alarm. "Hush!" whispered Simon. "That's the leash thong of Dick Hamilton's bulldog. Come along!" CHAPTER XVI DICK TURNS DETECTIVE "Well, Dick," remarked Mr. Hamilton at breakfast the next morning, "your party was a great success." "I hope they all had a good time. They seemed to. I know I did." "Yes, they were a fine lot of young people," went on the millionaire. "Oh, by the way, I had a letter from the man in Yazoo City I wrote to about your gold mine stock. Nick Smith, his name is. He's an old forty-niner, I understand." "What does he say?" "The mine is all right. He sent me a report from the government assay office, and I guess the Dolphin is as good as the Hop Toad." "Then I'd better finish paying for the stock when Mr. Vanderhoof comes to town again," said Dick. "It will be mine then, and all I'll have to do is to wait for it to increase and pay me big dividends." "I hope it does," answered Mr. Hamilton. "I also had a letter from Vanderhoof yesterday. He also had heard from Smith, it appears, and as he learned the mine was favorably reported on, he sent word that he'd call to-day for the fifteen hundred dollars." "He can have it, dad," said Dick. "I guess I'll go down to the bank with you. What time will Mr. Vanderhoof be there?" "At eleven, his letter said. Well, if you have finished breakfast, come along. You're getting to be quite a financier."