mine, will be wiped out—lost.” 

 “Lost!” echoed Frank. 

 “All our money?” added Ned. 

 “Yes. There is no use concealing anything,” their uncle said. “All our fortunes are in jeopardy and may be swept away if the political situation in Uridio does not clear up.” 

 “Uridio! Where is that?” asked Frank. 

 “It is a small South American republic,” was the answer. “There was trouble some years ago in one of the many states that go to make up Brazil. Some of the inhabitants set up a sort of independent government under a new political leader. Then another man had ambitions to become president of the same little republic, and he organized an army and took control. 

 “The republic is really too small for Brazil to worry about, and that is why the affair never created much of a stir, at least up in this part of the world.” 

 “But how are you—or we—interested in Uridio?” asked Frank. 19 

19

 “Because your money and mine is tied up there in certain concessions,” said Mr. Arden. 

 “But I thought our fortunes were invested in father’s importing business,” said Frank. 

 “They were. But the importing business has changed greatly of late years. There is not so much money in it as there used to be. I saw that situation arising, and gradually I curtailed the business. Then I became interested in this South American republic of Uridio. It has great natural resources and varied products, and, best of all, it touches the sea coast, so we can ship direct, though the harbor is a miserable one, and unsafe in stormy weather. But still it was profitable to do business there. At least until recently.” 

 “And what happened recently?” asked Ned. 

 “Well, it seems there was another change of government down there. Another man wanted to be king, or president, or whatever they call themselves, so he started a revolt, and there was a small revolution.” 

 “Say, that sounds like a story from a book!” exclaimed Ned, his eyes sparkling. He did not seem to think of his lost fortune. 

 Prev. P 15/123 next