Walter took Ed's place at the steering wheel of the Whirlwind, and
the fisherman seated himself beside Jack. Then Walter ran Cora's car
out of the mire of the meadow and into the road, the three girls
remaining in the machine.

"I suppose if the young ladies hadn't run you down we wouldn't have
seen you the entire summer," said Jack to Ed as he ran the smaller
machine along behind the touring car.

"Oh, indeed you would," answered Ed. "I really intended looking you
up in a day or two. You see, I have been very busy. What are you
laughing at? Because I said I was busy? Well, I guess I have the
busiest kind of business on hand. Say, let me whisper," and he
leaned over confidentially, though there was no need for it, as the
other auto was some distance ahead. "I'm going into finance."

"Finance?"

"Yes. Stocks--bonds--and so on, you know. Bank stocks. Think of
that, Jack, my boy!"

"Good for you! Three cheers for the bank stock!" exclaimed Jack in
a half whisper. "In the new bank, I suppose?"

"The correct supposition," answered Ed. "I have been invited to
subscribe for some of the new issue of stock, and I've decided to.
I'm going over to get it in a day or two. I'm to pay partly in cash,
and turn over to them some of my bonds and other negotiable
securities that I inherited from father, who was a banker, you know.