He would have been content with that if he had not discovered, when it was too late, that the parties who bought his land had no idea of putting up a school or anything of that sort.
It was at the time when the fact was just becoming known that oil could be found in great quantities in the far Western lands.
Claymore and his companion, by making secret tests of the soil, had come to the conclusion that this worthless end of Hank Low’s farm was the best place in the State for oil wells.
So they bought several acres for next to nothing.
It might be supposed that their next step would be to sink wells and build a refinery, or a pipe line.
But such things cost money, and neither Claymore nor his partner had any left to speak of.
They had to raise it, and in this task they had the assistance of the Rev. Elijah Judson.
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.