“Now,” said Mr. Crosmont on the morning after Grant’s arrival, “I have some work for you to do.”

“I am glad of it, sir,” replied Grant. “I should be homesick if I were idle.”

“I have great faith in the future of San Francisco,” continued the Englishman. “Real estate is sure to make rapid advances, and I am investing in lots all over the city. By the way, you are the owner of two lots on this street.”

“You are very kind, Mr. Crosmont,” said Grant gratefully.

“I mean to be. The lots are of large size, and only cost fifty dollars apiece. I could sell them for double that sum to-day, though I bought them only two months since. How much money have you belonging to Cooper and yourself?”

323“Fifteen hundred dollars.”

“I advise you to invest a thousand in lots, under my direction.”

“You can invest the whole, sir. Tom Cooper has seven hundred dollars left in gold-dust, and that will be all the reserve we need.”

“Very well! For every dollar you invest, I feel sure that you can get five within a comparatively short time.”

“I will be guided by your judgment², sir.”

Grant succeeded in getting twenty lots for his money, half of which were entered in the name of Tom Cooper. When he had in his possession the deeds for all his property he began to feel like a capitalist.

“I wonder what Mr. Tarbox would say if he knew how I was fixed³,” thought Grant. “He would want to be my guardian⁴. I shall be glad when I can buy a nice home for my mother away from the whole Tarbox tribe. She works altogether too hard. If things go well she shall have an easier time henceforth.”

Mr. Crosmont opened a real estate office and put Grant in charge. Though he was the responsible 324head, he left the principal work, including the bookkeeping, in the hands of his protégé.

“You must have a regular salary, Grant,” he said. “Now, what shall it be?”

“Anything you like, Mr. Crosmont.”

“That isn’t business-like. The laborer⁵ is

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