The clergyman had not been in Colorado when Hank Low’s land was bought. In fact, he did not half understand the scheme.
He had not been a success as a preacher, but he had a little money, some two or three thousand dollars, and Claymore had persuaded him that with it he could make his fortune in oil.
There was nothing dishonest in discovering oil and digging for it, for if there had been, the clergyman would not have touched the scheme.
Supposing that it was all right, he had put in his money, and had been made the president of the company.
His name was printed in large type on the letters sent out by Claymore, and these letters were sent to people in the far East, who had been members of Reverend Elijah Judson’s church.
They were also sent to other places where his name was known, and they told all about the wonderful discovery of oil.
Friends of the clergyman were to be allowed to invest in the company, if they wanted a sure thing.
The letters did not state that the money was needed for digging the wells or building a refinery.[{5}]
Oh, no! Persons who received the letters were given to understand that this was their chance to get rich quickly.
And the Reverend Elijah Judson’s name as president of the oil company was enough to make everybody sure that it was all right. For, of course, the clergyman would not go into any business that was not perfectly straight and sure.