"I will give you some names," was the broker's reply, and he wrote them down. "They are the principal stockholders outside of ourselves."
Tom took the list and glanced at it. His father's name did not appear, nor did the names of two other men he knew were interested in the concern.
"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."