“With pleasure, Mr. Bickford, more especially as I have decided to open a real estate office in addition to my regular business. You and Joe will be my first customers. I shouldn’t wonder if the two or three thousand dollars you leave with me should amount in ten years to ten thousand.”
“Ten thousand!” ejaculated Joshua, elated. “Won’t I swell round Pumpkin Holler when I’m worth ten thousand dollars!”
Six days later, among the passengers by the steamer for Panama, were Joseph Mason and Joshua Bickford.
CHAPTER XL
JOE’S WELCOME HOME
On arriving in New York both Joe and Mr. Bickford bought new suits of clothes. Mr. Bickford purchased a blue dress suit, resplendent with brass buttons, and a gold watch and chain, which made a good deal of show for the money. His tastes were still barbaric, and a quiet suit of black would not have come up to his idea of what was befitting a successful California miner.
He surveyed himself before the tailor’s glass with abundant satisfaction.
“I guess that’ll strike ’em at home, eh, Joe?” he said.
“You look splendid, Mr. Bickford.”
“Kinder scrumptious, don’t I?”
“Decidedly so.”