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 Reverend 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. 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. 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. That was quite the case--at least, the clergyman thought it was. He meant well, and he really believed that the company was square, and that there would be great profits in the business. There were many answers to the letters, and money came in rapidly. Not many persons invested large amounts, but the sum total was considerable. All this operation of raising money for the work took several months. At last the clergyman went to Colorado to look over the plant and do his share of the work. He was surprised to find that there wasn’t any plant. There was the land that had been bought; on it were a few small mounds of loose dirt to show where borings had been made; and in Denver there was the office of the company. Nothing more. Claymore explained that it took time to get the machinery for sinking the wells, and Mr. Judson was satisfied.