d account; but the matter demanded
thought, and for a long time he sat motionless, deeply pondering. His
farming had prospered, though the bare and laborious life had tried him
hard; and he had made some money by more questionable means, lending to
unfortunate neighbors at extortionate interest and foreclosing on their
possessions. No defaulter got any mercy at his hands, and shrewd
sellers of seed and implements took precautions when they dealt with
him.

His money, however, would not last him long if he returned to England
and attempted to regain a footing in his profession, and he had
daringly schemed to increase it. Glancing across the room, his eyes
rested with a curious smile on one of the bookcases. It contained
works on hypnotism, telepathy, and psychological speculations in
general; he had studied some of them with ironical amusement and others
with a quickening of his interest. Amid much that he thought of as
sterile chaff he saw germs of truth; and once or twice he had been led
to the brink of a startling discovery. There the elusive clue had
failed him, though he felt that strange secrets might be revealed some
day.

After all, the books had served his purpose, as well as kept him from
brooding when he sat alone at nights while the icy wind howled round
his dwelling. He passed for a sage and something of a prophet with the
primitive Dubokars; his Indian friends regarded him as medicine-man;
and both unknowingly had made easier his search for the petroleum.
Then, contrary to his expectations he had found speculators in London
willing to venture a few hundred pounds on his scheme; but the amount
was insufficient and the terms were exacting. It would pay him better
to get rid of his associates. He was growing old; it would be too late
to return to his former life unless he could do so soon; but he must
make a fair start with ample means. The man had no scruples and no
illusions; money well employed would buy him standing and friends.
People were charitable to a man who had something to offer them; and
the blot on his name must be nearly forgotten.

First of all, however, the richest spot of the oil field must be found,
and money enough raised to place him in a strong position when the
venture was put on the market. He had failed to extort any from
Challoner; but he might be more successful with his son. The man who
was weak enough to allow his cousin to suffer for his fault would no
doubt yield