It's everything," suggested' the Colonel, "in knowing where to invest.

I've known people throwaway their money because they were too

consequential to take Sellers' advice. Others, again, have made their

pile on taking it. I've looked over the ground; I've been studying it

for twenty years. You can't put your finger on a spot in the map of

Missouri that I don't know as if I'd made it. When you want to place

anything," continued the Colonel, confidently, "just let Beriah Sellers

know. That's all."

"Oh, I haven't got much in ready money I can lay my hands on now, but if

a fellow could do anything with fifteen or twenty thousand dollars,

as a beginning, I shall draw for that when I see the right opening."

Well, that's something, that's something, fifteen or twenty thousand

dollars, say twenty--as an advance," said the Colonel reflectively, as if

turning over his mind for a project that could be entered on with such a

trifling sum.

"I'll tell you what it is--but only to you Mr. Brierly, only to you,

mind; I've got a little project that I've been keeping. It looks small,

looks small on paper, but it's got a big future. What should you say,

sir, to a city, built up like the rod of Aladdin had touched it, built up

in two years, where now you wouldn't expect it any more than you'd expect

a light-house on the top of Pilot Knob? and you could own the land! It

can be done, sir. It can be done!"

169

The Gilded Age