"We'll get out, if you say so," answered Roger, quickly.

   "Oh, say, can't we stay and face him?" asked Phil, eagerly. "We'll give him the surprise of his life!"

   "Certainly, you can stay!" exclaimed Mr. Fordham, with sudden energy. "I want you to stay. You should not be afraid to say to his face what you have said behind his back."

   Dave looked around the apartment. A bathroom was handy, the door standing ajar.

   "Supposing we step in there for a few minutes, while you and Mr. Passmore meet Mr. Haskers," he cried. "We'll come out when you say so."

   "A clever idea!" cried the rug dealer. "Maybe we'll be able to catch him in a trap!"

   "Mr. Passmore, I'll leave this matter to you," answered the elderly gentleman. "You know those young men better than I do."

   "So I do, and I'll vouch for Roger Morr and his friends," was the answer. "Show the gentleman up," he added, to the bell-boy. "Don't tell him who is here—we want to surprise him."

   As the bell-boy left, the three chums crowded into the bathroom, leaving the door on a crack. Soon there came another knock, and Job Haskers presented himself, silk hat and cane in hand. He was well dressed and evidently groomed for the occasion. He had expected to find Mr. Fordham alone, and was somewhat annoyed on beholding a visitor ahead of him.

   "Good-morning, Mr. Haskers," said the elderly gentleman, politely. "This is my friend, Mr. Passmore."

   "Happy to know you, sir," responded the former teacher, with pretended warmth. "A lovely morning after the storm," he went on, as he drew off the gloves he was wearing.

   "We were just discussing this stock you have been offering to Mr. Fordham," remarked Mr. Passmore, a bit dryly. "The Sunset Company is a new one to me. Did you help to organize it?"

   "Well, I—er—I had a little to do with the organization," stammered the former teacher.

   "You are a regular stock-broker, I presume, Mr. Haskers."

   "Yes, that is my business. But I don't deal in ordinary stocks—I handle only those which are gilt-edged and big money makers," added Job Haskers, with a flourish.

   

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