"Thank you," said the youth, rising. "I will look into this. It might be a good investment for me."
"Finest in the world," returned Jesse Pelter. "Better let me put you down for five thousand dollars' worth of shares to-day."
"No, I want to think it over first."
"Supposing I hold the shares for you until to-morrow?" went on the broker, persuasively.
"You can do that, if you wish," answered Tom.
"Do you want to leave a deposit on them?"
"I didn't bring any money with me—that is, not enough."
"You might write out a check, Mr. Putnam."
"No, I'll think it over first."
"Then I'll hold the shares and look for you to-morrow," returned Jesse Pelter, somewhat disappointedly. He loved to get his hands on another's money at the first interview. "Please come in after lunch," he added. "I have an important engagement for the morning."
With the map and prospectus and list of names in his pocket, Tom left the offices. He saw that the man with the pointed chin and heavy eyebrows was not present. The force consisted of Mr. Pelter, the office boy, a girl at
