"Well, I want to know something more about this property first," continued Tom. "I don't want to throw any money away."
"Quite right. I see you are a level-headed young man and that is the kind I like to deal with. We'll go over this matter carefully." And then Jesse Pelter plunged into the details of the irrigation scheme, showing up its many good points, and how, in the near future, it was bound to make a lot of money for all who invested in it.
"And you have the shares to sell?" asked Tom.
"Oh, yes."
"Do you own the property, Mr. Pelter?"
"Our company owns it—that is, we have a controlling interest in it."
"There are no other big stockholders?"
"None at all. We have invested heavily,—buying out the old company and reorganizing it. All of the other stockholders are small ones. You see, we have such faith in this scheme that we don't want to let too much stock get away from us."
Tom did not see, but he did not say so. Not a word had been said about Mr. Rover and his interest—Mr. Pelter ignored Tom's father entirely. And yet the youth knew that his parent had fifty thousand dollars or more tied up in that very company!
"I'd like to know some of the people who have invested in this stock," said Tom, after the matter had been talked over for nearly an hour.