At this moment a telegraph boy appeared with a dispatch, which he handed to Mr. Brandford.
"What's this?" said the manufacturer. "Who is Jim Scott?"
"The man I left in charge of our mine."
"Read that, then."
Paul took the telegram and read:
"Your mine is developing richly. Will you sell for fifteen thousand dollars?"
Paul's eyes sparkled with delight, not alone at his prospective profit, but at this proof of his financial shrewdness.
"Well, Paul, what shall we do?" asked the manufacturer, smiling. "It is your affair, and you shall decide."
"We might sell half on that basis," suggested Paul. "Very good. Write the dispatch, and it shall be sent at once. Moreover, I will consider you half-owner, and you shall give me back that check for five hundred dollars. Then we shall have each invested one thousand five hundred dollars."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Bradford, I can hardly believe this is real."