complicated.

"That's the lay: Development work; appropriation for honest men in the
first camp; another for lawyers; patentin' three claims; haul water
seventy-five miles, no road, and part of that through sand; minin'
machinery; build a railroad; smelter, maybe--if some one would kindly
find coal.

"We want a minimum of five hundred thousand; as much more for accidents.
Where does this cousin of yours live? In Abingdon?"

"In Vesper--seven miles from Abingdon. He's a lawyer."

"Is he all right?"

"Why, yes--I guess so. When I was a boy I thought he was a wonderful
chap--rather made a hero of him."

"When you was a boy?" echoed Johnson; a quizzical twinkle assisted the
query.

"Oh, well--when he was a boy."

"He's older than you, then?"

"Nearly twice as old. My father was the youngest son of an old-fashioned
family, and I was his youngest. Uncle Roy--Oscar's father--was dad's
oldest brother, and Oscar was a first and only."

Pete shook his head.