ll, however, to add: 'But I'd advise you to
be mighty careful if you're calc'lating to run a saw on old 'Bijh.
What's your programme?'

'You see this here interesting and valuable collection of gold dust,'
said the Major, producing a vial which contained particles of the ore in
unusual abundance, and flourishing it in his hand in a manner intensely
theatrical. 'Belonging to a friend of mine, he donates it for this
occasion only, so to speak. It will appear, of course, to have been dug
out of a piece of ground belonging to that highly respectable and public
spirited citizen, Mr. G. G. Jones. With a cupidity not at all to be
wondered at, I shall attempt to keep the matter secret and immediately
to make a purchase. I shall apply to Witherpee, as a man of wealth, to
advance me part of the funds, or get him, rather, to act as my agent in
buying it, because you, Jones, a friend of mine, would suspect me of
being up to something if I should offer to buy it myself. D'ye see the
bait, now? Catch _him_ playing off!'

As further conversation was modulated to an undertone, and accompanied
with a complete signal code of nods and chuckles, it is fair to presume
that Mr. J. _did_ see the bait--and was sure of a good nibble too.

No time was lost before the speculator and his victim had their knees
under the same table--with a mug of hard cider between them. Mingled
suspicion and avarice in Abijah's expression argued well for the success
of the scheme. As is often the case, his love of money was only
surpassed by the credulity with which he gave ear to new plans for
satisfying it. He was slow to trust Davis, because they had not been the
best of friends, but the Major played his cards so well that the old
fellow did not waver long:

'All you will have to do is to hand it right over to me, you know, and
take your commission money. You see just as well as I do that it
wouldn't do no how for me to undertake it on my own hook.'

And the 'Squire said, 'Yes, certainly,' but couldn't see it distinctly
either, and after they had fixed upon the maximum price, and the 'Squire
had feasted his eyes once more on the 'real glitter,' and Charley had
explained for the twenty-first time that the divining rod had
demonstrated the singular fact that not a bit of ground outside that
particular lot was worth a red cent to prospect on, and the 'Squire had
once for all swallowed the whole story, and declared it the most
remarkable thing he ever heard of