condition. The great interest which Kate and Harry had taken in the
telegraph line had prevented them from paying much attention to their
ordinary methods of making money, and now that the company's
appropriation was spent, there seemed to be no immediate method of
getting any money for the old woman's present needs.

This matter was not strictly the business of the Board, but they
nevertheless considered it.




CHAPTER XXI.

A LAST RESORT.


The Board was fully agreed that something must be done to relieve Aunt
Matilda's present necessities, but what to do did not seem very clear.

Wilson Ogden proposed issuing some kind of scrip or bonds, redeemable in
six or seven months, when the company should be on a paying basis.

"I believe," said he, "that Mr. Darby would take these bonds at the
store for groceries and things, and we might pay him interest, besides
redeeming the bonds when they came due."

This was rather a startling proposition. No one had suspected Wilson of
having such a financial mind.