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 "I should like to have a whack at them some other time," John said, "but I can't come this afternoon."

"All right," said Ned. "We have tennis all the year round in Colorado, so you are not likely to lose your chance."

"What are you going in for out here, Ned?" I asked, as we walked up the avenue.

"Tennis and real-estate."

"Which do you make the most money at?"

"Not at tennis," said he. "I own some pretty good property out here. That, for instance," he added, as we passed Mrs. Ellerton's gate.

"The deuce you do!" said I, with undisguised astonishment. In old times Ned did not enjoy the reputation of being a financial genius. "How did you do it?"

"I didn't do it. The town did it. It has been growing like a mushroom ever since I came out, five years ago, and I had the luck to chip in just in time."

"You know Miss Lamb then."