benefit of the club. Is that plain?"

"Perfectly."

"Very well, then. Now the Siowitha is largely composed of very rich
men--among them Bradley Harmon, Jack Ruthven, George Fane, Sanxon
Orchil, the Hon. Delmour-Carnes--_that_ crowd--rich and stingy. That's
why they are contented with a yearly agreement with the farmers instead
of buying the four thousand acres. Why put a lot of good money out of
commission when they can draw interest on it and toss an insignificant
fraction of that interest as a sop to the farmers? Do you see? That's
your millionaire method--and it's what makes 'em in the first place."

He drew a large fancy handkerchief from his pistol-pocket and wiped the
beads from the bridge of his limber nose. But they reappeared again.

"Now," he said, "I am satisfied that, working very carefully, we can
secure options on every acre of the four thousand. There is money in it
either way and any way we work it; we get it coming and going. First of
all, if the Siowitha people find that they really cannot get on without
controlling these acres--why"--and he snickered so that his nose curved
into a thin, ruddy beak--"why, Captain, I suppose we _could_ let them
have the land. Eh? Oh, yes--if they _must_ have it!"

Selwyn frowned slightly.

"But the point is," continued Neergard, "that it borders the railroad on
the north; and where the land is not wavy it's flat as a pancake,
and"--he sank his husky voice--"it's fairly riddled with water. I paid a
thousand dollars for six tests."