The Essential Edward Stratemeyer Collection. Stratemeyer Edward

and Roger could hear all the former teacher and the elderly gentleman were saying.

      "It's really the chance of a lifetime," urged Job Haskers, with great earnestness. "I never knew of a better opportunity to make money. The consolidation of the five mills has placed the entire business in the hands of the Sunset Company. If you sign for that stock you'll be doing the best business stroke you've done in a lifetime, Mr. Fordham."

      "Maybe, maybe," answered the old gentleman, hesitatingly. "Yet I really ought to consult my son before I do it. But he is in Philadelphia. I might write----"

      "Then it may be too late," interposed Job Haskers. "As I told you before, this stock is going like wildfire. And at thirty-five it's a bargain. I think it will be up to sixty or seventy inside of a month--or two months at the latest. You'd better sign for the hundred shares right now and make sure of them." And Job Haskers held out one of the papers in his hand and also the fountain pen.

      Roger and Dave looked at each other and probably the same thought flashed through the minds of both. Should they show themselves and let the elderly gentleman know just what sort of a man Job Haskers was?

      "I guess we'd better take a hand----" commenced Dave, when he paused as he saw the old gentleman shake his head.

      "I--I don't think I'll do it to-night, Mr. Haskers," he said, slowly. "I--I want to sleep on it. Come and see me again in the morning."

      "The stock may go up by morning," interposed the former teacher of Oak Hall. "It went up day before yesterday, two points. Better bind the bargain right now."

      "No, I'll wait until morning."

      "Well, when can I see you, Mr. Fordham?" asked the other, trying to conceal his disappointment.

      "I'll be around about ten o'clock--I don't get up very early."

      "Very well, I'll call at that time then," said Job Haskers. "But you might as well sign for it now," and again he held out the paper and the pen.

      "No, I'll wait until to-morrow morning," answered Mr. Fordham, as he arose. "It's time I retired now. I--I'm not as strong as I once was."

      "I am sorry to hear that. Well, I'll be around in the morning, and I am sure you will realize that this is a good thing, after you have thought it over," said Job Haskers, with calm assurance, and then he and the elderly man left the room. Dave and Roger saw them separate in the main hall of the hotel, the old gentleman going upstairs, and Job Haskers out into the storm.

      CHAPTER V

      A TRAP FOR JOB HASKERS

      "What do you think of it, Dave?"

      "I think Job Haskers is up to some game, Roger."

      "Selling worthless stocks?"

      "Yes, or else stocks that are next door to worthless."

      "I wonder who the old gentleman can be? He looks as if he might have money. That diamond ring he wears must be worth several hundred dollars."

      "Supposing we ask Mr. Passmore about him?" suggested Dave.

      "That's the idea."

      The youths found Mr. Passmore in a protected corner of a side porch, smoking. Most of the storm was now over, but it still rained.

      "Tired of bowling, eh?" said Bert's father, who was a wholesale dealer in rugs.

      "Mr. Passmore, we want to ask you some questions," said Roger. "Do you know an elderly gentleman here by the name of Fordham?"

      "Fordham? Yes, I've met him. Nice man, too, but rather feeble."

      "Is he alone here?" asked Dave.

      "Practically. He has a son that comes to see him once in a while. Did you want to see him?"

      "We have seen him, and we were wondering if we hadn't better have a talk with him," explained Dave.

      "We'll tell you how it is," put in Roger, who knew Mr. Passmore well. And then he and Dave related the particulars of what they had seen, and told something of what Job Haskers was.

      "Hum! This might be worth looking into," mused the rug dealer. "Of course, these stocks may be all right. But it looks rather fishy to me. Years ago I bought some stocks like that and they proved to be utterly worthless. It certainly won't do any harm to tell old Mr. Fordham what you know about this man Haskers."

      "I'd hate to get into a row----" commenced Roger.

      "I wouldn't--not if I was going to save that old gentleman's money for him," interrupted Dave. "Job Haskers sha'n't pull the wool over anybody's eyes if I can prevent it!"

      "Oh, I am with you there, Dave!" cried the senator's son, quickly. "I was thinking that perhaps we would warn this Mr. Fordham without Haskers knowing anything about it."

      "Better not try to do anything to-night," said Mr. Passmore. "You can see Mr. Fordham in the morning, and I'll be present, if you wish it."

      A little later the two boys found Phil and Bert coming from the dance, and told their old school chum of what they had witnessed.

      "Of course, we ought to expose Haskers!" declared the shipowner's son, who was not likely to forget how he had suffered at the hands of the former teacher of Oak Hall. "We'll go to this Mr. Fordham and tell him just what a rascal Haskers is!"

      The doings of the day had made all the boys tired, and they slept soundly. Dave was the first astir in the morning, but the others, including Bert, soon followed. The storm had passed and the sun was shining brightly.

      "I'd like you fellows to stay here over the Fourth," said Bert, when they went below for breakfast. "Maybe we could have a dandy time."

      "Can't do it," declared Roger. "I am expecting company at the house--some more Oak Hall fellows. But you might come there, if you care to, Bert," he added.

      "All right, I'll see about it."

      Dave and the others had already made up their minds what to do about Mr. Fordham. About nine o'clock they sent a message to the elderly gentleman's room, stating they wished to see him on a matter of importance to himself, and adding that Mr. Passmore would be with them.

      "He says for you to come right up," said the bell-boy, who had delivered the message.

      "Is he up yet?" questioned Dave.

      "Yes, sir."

      The bell-boy led the way to the room, which was in a wing on the second floor. All the boys but Bert went up, and Mr. Passmore accompanied them. They found Mr. Fordham seated in an easy chair. He looked quite bewildered at the entrance of so many visitors.

      "Good-morning, Mr. Fordham," said Mr. Passmore. "I suppose you are quite surprised to see me at this time in the morning, and with so many young gentlemen with me," and the rug dealer smiled broadly.

      "A bit surprised, yes," was the somewhat feeble answer. "But I--I suppose it is all right."

      "Let me introduce my young friends," went on Mr. Passmore, and did so. "They have got something they would like to tell you."

      "To tell me?" questioned the aged man, curiously. "Sit down, won't you," he added, politely, and motioned to chairs and to a couch.

      "We came to see you about a man who called to see you last night, a Mr. Job Haskers," said Dave, after a pause, during which the visitors seated themselves. "Perhaps it is none of our business, Mr. Fordham, but my chums and I here felt it our duty to tell you about that man."

      "We don't want to do him any harm, if he is trying to earn an honest living," put in Roger, "but we want you to be on your guard in any dealings you may have with him."