"It's not a chance, but a certainty. You shall have the place. And what a delight it will be to the General to visit his daughter there. Now, don't speculate--let it be settled. Well, I'll see you to-morrow and tell you how it's all to turn out, but have no fears about getting the farm." I found Parker at the tavern. He told me that I might have a few acres of land down about the spring, but that I would have to pay a little more for it than he had paid. "We can't afford to trade for the mere fun of it," he said. "My father used to do such things and they came mighty nigh having to haul him to the poor house." I offered him a sum that pleased him, that must, indeed, have delighted him, for he offered to go out and set up a feast of cove oysters and crackers, a great and liberal ceremony in the country; and over the tin plates in a grocery store the transaction was celebrated. I met him again early at morning, and before the day was half-grown I saw our transaction spread upon the records. And at night Ging arrived. I introduced him to Conkwright. "The Judge will represent me," said I, "and I will stand by any agreement he may enter into with you." "All right," Ging replied. "How far is it out to the mine?" "About five miles." "Better go out to-night. Haven't any time to lose. Get a rig and we'll go out." "Might as well wait until morning," said the Judge. "We can't do anything to-night." "I know, but by staying there to-night we'll be there right early in the morning. Get a rig." They drove away and I went round to the jail to tell Alf that the old Morton place was rapidly coming his way. I slept but little that night and I was nervous the next day, as I sat in the Judge's office waiting for him to return. At 11 o'clock he drove up alone. "Where is Ging?" I asked as the old man got out of the buggy. "Gone to the telegraph office. Come in and I'll tell you all about it." We entered the office and I stood there impatient at his delay, for instead of telling me, he was silent, walking up and down the room with his hands under his coat behind him. "Did you say he had gone to the telegraph office?" "Yes; said he had to communicate with his partner. Think he must have been somewhat startled at my knowledge of mica; but if he should spring the subject on me a week from now he would be still more startled--at my ignorance. In this instance I have been what is termed a case lawyer." And still I waited and still he continued to walk up and down the room, his hands behind him. "Communicate with his partner. Did he make an offer?" "Well, he hunted around in that neighborhood, but his gun hung fire. The truth is I set the price myself. There is no doubt as to the value of the mine--finest in the world, I should think." "What did you tell him he could have it for?" "Well, I suppose we could get more for it, but I told him that he might have it for six hundred thousand dollars. I--why, what's wrong with that offer? Isn't it enough?"