, he consented to act as agent in the
purchase.

* * * * *

For some unaccountable reason, Abijah Witherpee found Mr. Jones not at
all in the humor for a bargain. The land wasn't worth much, he knew, and
it was very handsome in the 'Squire to offer fifty dollars for it, but
the fact was that his feelings somehow prompted him to keep it: it was a
silly idea, perhaps, but he had always thought, ever since he had owned
the land, that some day it would be worth gold to him.

'Gracious goodness!' thought Abijah; 'Jones swore that it was a secret
that only he and the diviner knew. Could this man have felt it out by
animal magnetism, or anything of that sort?' But his mind was at ease
again when he was assured by further conversation that the owner was
entirely ignorant of the momentous truth. The 'Squire's offers were
tempting, and, from byplay and bantering, at last amounted to what
appeared a perfectly fabulous sum. The upshot of the matter was that the
coolheaded Jones got rid of the wretched little lot for $490 cash. The
purchaser was now quite sure that he was the shrewdest fellow in that
part of the country.

Just as had been anticipated, the agent's next move was to lay claim to
the auriferous region himself, and refuse to turn it over to the lawful
owner. The Major exhibited a proper degree of anxiety to learn the
results of the interview, and appeared well enough satisfied with the
price--high as it was.

He was deaf to every proposition of the 'Squire, who was ready almost to
double on the purchase money; till at last the latter declared point
blank that he meant to stick to the property himself; that the agreement
was verbal merely, and he would have ownership in writing, in spite of
what Major Davis or anybody else could do. It was in vain that the Major
protested and threatened prosecution for swindling, and called witnesses
to the transaction. Before sunset, Witherpee was the sole and
indisputable proprietor of the newly discovered El Dorado.

It is hardly worth while to state how so extraordinary a financier
succeeded when he came to actual prospecting. It was currently reported
that there was 'some pretty tall digging going on down in that swamp
lot.' It required a lengthy series of geological arguments, with
practical illustrations, to convince 'Squire Witherpee that the soil of
East Hampton was somewhat feeble in the production of the precious
metals--except, perhaps, in