Bert found a place where he could show to advantage, and was quick to seize the opportunity.
"I save money. I've got quite a bit in the bank across the street," he said, and could see at once that his stock had gone up in Sam's estimation.
"I don't propose to let my money stay in the bank," the clerk said. "Make money work for you . . . invest it. Get a big profit. I'm just waiting around to find an opening for my capital, and then I'll blossom out as a business man."
"I've been thinking of that myself," Bert nodded. He had not thought of anything of the kind, but it sounded important to make the assertion.
Sam smiled. The idea of a schoolboy talking of investing capital! "You couldn't do it on just a few dollars," he warned good-naturedly.
"I've got more than that—about three hundred dollars. Some of it I saved, and some of it is Christmas and birthday money sent to me by my grandfather, and my uncle and my two aunts."
Sam's smile was succeeded by a look of respect. "Looking around for any particular business?"
"Anything that promises a good return," Bert answered. He had heard his father use the phrase.
"You'll find it," Sam admitted. "If a man's wise enough to save money he's wise enough to find a way to use it."
The clerk, during this dialogue, had not neg-
