"Who is this Strong?" Garton asked. "The name sounds familiar. There was a professor by that name at Passdale."
"He is the same man, but he is blind now, and helpless, depending upon his daughter for support. He lost what money he had saved, so I understand."
"You don't tell me that Professor Strong is living in Rixton!" Garton exclaimed in astonishment. "Why, he was considered a very able man when he was at Passdale I have heard a great deal about him. But how did he come to lose his money?"
"He invested it, like so many other simpletons, in that Big Chief mining concern. I did the same, and so lost what little I had."
"No, you haven't," and Garton picked up one of the letters by his side. "I have good news for you and the professor. The Big Chief has revived and is going stronger than ever. This is a letter I received to-day telling me about it. I invested largely in that concern, and so am greatly interested."
Douglas made no reply to this most gratifying information. His mind had gone back to Rixton and the little cottage by the river-side. He pictured to himself the expression upon Nell's face and the look of joy in her eyes when she heard the good news. How he longed to start right off and tell her. What a relief it would be to her to know that the little place would be saved from Simon Stubbles' grasp, and that all the gnawing financial cares would be ended. It seemed almost too good to be true.
"How much did the professor invest?" Garton at length enquired.
"I do not know. But it must have been quite a sum. Anyway, it was his all, and the failure meant so much to him and his daughters."
"He can sell now at a good profit, as the stock is higher than ever it was before. You can tell him to come to me if he wishes to dispose of his interest."
"I can hardly believe that what you have told me is true," Douglas replied, "as it will mean so much for the Strongs. Simon Stubbles won't be able to worry them any longer."