The man seemed a little disappointed.

"Hum, yes, of course. Well, at the present market rate that will give you two hundred shares. You are in luck, my dear sir. We are going to put the price at a dollar a share in the morning. In fact we were going to advance it this afternoon. I will have your certificate made out at once." He took the money, which Ned held out, and touched a b.u.t.ton on his desk. A young man entered. "Make out a certificate for two hundred shares for this gentleman, er--let's see--I'm afraid I didn't catch your name when you mentioned it."

As Ned had not mentioned it the gentleman's inability to catch it might easily be forgiven.

Ned supplied the necessary information, and the clerk withdrew. Another entered a moment later. He seemed much excited:

"Just had a wire from Colonel Janders," he said. "The Black Cat well has increased fifty barrels a day, Mr. Skem!"

"Good!" exclaimed the florid gentleman. "Tell Mr. Skim at once, and put the stock up to a dollar a share. You got in just in time," he added, turning to Ned, and our hero thought so himself.

As the last clerk withdrew another one came in.

"Got an order from Mr. Johnson for five thousand shares," he announced.

"Shall I let him have 'em at fifty?"

"Sorry to disoblige Mr. Johnson, who is a very good friend of mine,"

said Mr. Skem, "but I shall have to charge him a dollar. I guess he'll pay it. The stock will go to two dollars a share before the end of the week."

The first clerk came back with a finely engraved certificate, on which the name "Edward Wilding" was written in a flourishing hand.

"There you are," said Mr. Skem. "I hope you will take some more stock soon. If you invest before the end of the week I will, as a special favor to you, make the price seventy-five cents."

Ned had half a mind to invest another hundred dollars, but he thought he had better write to his father first. Then, with the precious certificate in his pocket, he started for his uncle's house, planning to stop on the way and order his trunk sent up.

CHAPTER XV

IN TROUBLE

By inquiring from a policeman Ned found which elevated road to take in order to get to his uncle's residence. As he found the station was close to the office of the oil company, he decided he would go direct to Mr.

Kenfield's home and arrange later to have his trunk sent up. He knew his uncle had a telephone, and thought the baggage could be sent for by an order over the wire. This would save him a long trip back to the station.

When Ned reached the address on West Forty-fourth street he was admitted by a maid, who asked him whom he wished to see.

"Is my uncle in?" asked Ned.

"Oh, so you're the little lad from Darewell," the girl exclaimed, with a smile, though Ned did not think he quite came under the category of "little." The maid asked him to come in and, as soon as he entered the hall, he saw that the place was in confusion. Several trunks stood about, some half full, others empty, while on chairs and sofas in the reception hall and parlor were piles of clothing.

"Is anything the matter?" asked Ned.

"Mr. Kenfield has suddenly been called to Europe," the girl said. "He has to go aboard the steamer to-night, and he must pack up at once. He has gone down town on a matter of business but he'll soon be back. Your aunt is expecting you. She's upstairs. I'll show you."

The girl led Ned to Mrs. Kenfield's room.

"Oh, Ned, I had forgotten all about you!" his aunt exclaimed. "I'm so glad to see you, but I'm sorry we're so upset. However, it will be over in a few hours, and when your uncle is off on the steamer you and I can sit down and talk. I want you to tell me all about Darewell and how your father is. I haven't seen him in so long! My! but you're the perfect image of him. How are you?"

"Very well, aunt," Ned replied. "Can I do anything to help you?"

"No, we are almost packed, or, rather your uncle is. He has to take quite a lot of things, as he doesn't know how long he may have to stay.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll see about another trunk."

Mr. Kenfield returned to the house in about an hour and warmly welcomed his nephew. He expressed regret at the necessity which so unexpectedly called him abroad, and said his trip could not be postponed.

"But you will have a good time with your aunt," he added with a smile.

"She knows as much about New York as I do, and will have more opportunities to take you around."

"Perhaps I had better telegraph the other boys not to come," suggested Ned. "It may inconvenience you."

"No, no; let them come and welcome!" exclaimed Mrs. Kenfield. "I love boys. We'll have a fine time. I have lots of room, and I want you and your chums to enjoy this visit to New York."

That night Mr. Kenfield, bidding his wife and nephew good-bye, went aboard the vessel which was to sail early in the morning to take advantage of the tide.

"Well, I suppose your uncle is well out on the ocean by this time,"

remarked Mrs. Kenfield, after a somewhat late breakfast which she and Ned ate alone in the handsome dining room. "Now, Ned, will you excuse me for a few hours? I have some shopping to do, and I know you wouldn't want to be going through the stores while I stop at the bargain counters," and she laughed. "Try and make yourself at home here. Mary will get lunch for you, in case I am not back in time. To-morrow your chums will be here, and we must plan to entertain them."

Ned said he would be glad to take a rest during the morning, and, after his aunt had left he went to the library to read. He could not get interested in books, however, with the big city of New York at hand.

"I think I'll go out and get a paper, and see how my oil stock is getting along," he said. "Maybe it's advanced some more."

Telling Mary, the maid, where he was going, and remarking that he would soon be back, Ned went out into the street. It was rather cold, but the sun was shining brightly and most of the snow had been cleared away. Ned got a paper and turned to the financial page. There, sure enough was the name, Mt. Olive Oil, and it was quoted at one dollar a share. Ned did not notice that it was in the column of "unlisted securities," together with other stock of corporations, some selling as low as ten cents a share.

"I'm getting rich," Ned murmured to himself. "Guess I'll take another look at that certificate."

He pulled it from his pocket, and, as he stood in the street reading it over he suddenly exclaimed:

"They've made a mistake. It's only for one hundred shares instead of two hundred. I must go right down to the office and have it straightened out. It's probably a clerical error."

Though he said this to himself, it was with a vague feeling of uneasiness that Ned boarded a car to go to the offices of Skem & Skim. It must be an error, he repeated to himself, over and over again. Still he remembered what his father had said about "fake" companies. But this one had seemed substantial, and their offices certainly indicated that they did a big business. Ned was deposited by the elevator in the corridor opposite the glittering offices of Skem & Skim. He observed a number of persons standing before the entrance door.

"I tell you I will go in!" Ned heard one excited man exclaim. "They've got a thousand dollars of my money and I want it back."

"Yes, and they've got five hundred of mine," another man chimed in.

"I am sorry, gentlemen," replied a third voice. "But the offices are closed. No one can go in until after an investigation."

"By whose orders are they closed?" asked the man who had mentioned the thousand dollars.

"By the orders of the United States postal authorities," was the answer.

"A fraud order has been issued against Skem & Skim, and there is a warrant for their arrest on a charge of using the mails to swindle. They skipped out just before we got here this morning."

"Can't we get our money?" inquired half a dozen anxious ones.

"I'm afraid not," was the reply from a small but determined looking man who stood before the door. "My a.s.sistant and I have charge of the offices. As soon as we can learn anything definite we will let you know."