Gold" Mining Company. It was the lamp and he was the moth that was
circling around it with constantly lessening circles. His father, to whom
he had applied for information, told him that he believed the shares were
going at one pound, but that they threatened to be higher within a week,
and Jenvie, taking up the conversation, explained that, with a mill
built, the mine would easily pay sixty per cent on the investment
annually, which would throw the shares up to at least twenty pounds.
At the same time both the old men referred Jack to Stetson for full
particulars, as they had no direct interest in the property.

After a few days more, the mail from South Africa brought a glowing
account of further developments in "The Wedge of Gold," which account
found its way into the papers, and one was put where Jack would read it.
He had not consulted with Sedgwick. His idea was to make an investment,
and when the profits began to come in, to divide with him.

So one morning he went to the office of Stetson and said to the young
man: "I have concluded to take the working capital stock of the 'Wedge of
Gold;'" and sitting down he gave his check for £50,000. The stock for him
would be ready, he was informed, the next day, so soon as it could be
properly transferred.

He went out. The real owner of the property was sent for; the property
was bought for £2,000; the deed, which had been put in escrow, and which
on its face called for £150,000, was taken up, releasing the stock, and
then the old men and the young man rubbed their hands and said to each
other that it had been a good day's work.