say I will, how father would laugh when he comes home. I call my good
husband father, you know." The little woman ran on in this strange and
confused manner until Gusher began to think she was never going to stop.

"Invested my money--independent--don't want nobody to know it. Will
invest another thousand dollars if it turns out right. Yonkers people
expect to get rich soon by Kidd shares. Nobody'll know it, you know.
Don't want nobody to know it, you know. Come down here to invest so
nobody would know it, you know--"

"I am so glad," interrupted Mr. Gusher, receiving the money, "you put
your confidence in ze house. You shall zee zat ze honor of ze firm shall
be your protection." As he proceeded to arrange the little equivalents
with the picture of the big spread eagle at the top and the coffer dam
at the bottom, the little woman fixed her gaze on the counting-room
furniture, which seemed to attract her attention to an uncommon degree.
Elaborately-finished and highly-polished mahogany desks were arranged
around the room, the floor was covered with a soft carpet, and there
were carved oak chairs, upholstered in green plush. The walls were hung
with engravings and paintings representing favorite ships and
steamboats, and a huge safe stood wide open, displaying shelves and
drawers filed with books and papers. It was, indeed, a part of the
firm's philosophy that what you lacked in substance you must make up in
show.

There, too, was a door leading into Topman's private office, furnished
with exquisite good taste. Topman was the great financial monument of
the firm. Gusher did the elegant and ornamental.

George Peabody, the great philanthropist, made his fortune and his fame