Then came another wrangle, but it was settled on that basis, except that
each agreed that Captain McGregor should receive fair compensation for
bringing Jordan home, and they estimated that to be worth L100,000. That,
Jordan insisted should be paid out of his share, and it took an hour to
talk him out of it.
Then it required another half hour for the three to bulldoze McGregor
into accepting it. The convincing argument was made by Jordan, who said:
"Supposin' you hedn't a-come, whar would I a-bin now?"
McGregor went out, and then Browning said:
"I have a little matter to speak of. I sold my Venezuela mine yesterday
for L100,000," and so saying he took a memorandum from his pocket, opened
it, and tossed to Sedgwick and Jordan each a certificate for one-third of
the amount, saying: "I feared the way you were behaving you would spend
all your money, so I went to work to make you a little stake, as the boys
in Nevada say."
Another wrangle then ensued, both Sedgwick and Jordan declaring that they
had had nothing in the world to do with making the money; but Jack was
obstinate and carried his point.
McGregor returned, and all went to Sedgwick's to dinner. About the time
the coffee was brought, a messenger rang at the door and left a package
for Mr. Jordan. It was brought in, and then Jordan said:
"Friends, in Africa I found a prospector ez war broke. I give him a
little outfit ter go down on the Vaal. He came back after a while and
divied with me, 'nd I want ter divy with yo'."
So saying, he opened the package. Exclamations of surprise arose on all
sides. Before their eyes was a great heap of diamonds. "I war thinkin',"
said Jordan, "thet inasmuch ez thar war seven uv us, ther right thing ter
do would be ter make seven heaps of ther stones," and the only change
they could make in his plans was that the division should be made by one
who knew their value. He had secretly had them cut since coming to
London. They were really worth L10,000.
Next day the wedding of Jordan and Mrs. Hazleton was celebrated with all
the pomp which Grace and Rose could give it. It was followed by a great
feast, and numberless rare presents. Jordan never showed off so well. The
marriage exalted and transformed him.
After the wedding, Mr. and Mrs. Jordan left for
a month's visit to Scotland.
CHAPTER XXXII.
FRUITION.
The syndicate that bought the "Wedge of Gold" put some of the stock on
the market. A few days later another shipment of bullion was received,
another dividend was declared, and the stock advanced to L10 per share.
The happy owners gave an entertainment in honor of the mine, and called
it "The Wedge of Gold Reception." Sedgwick and Browning with their wives
and Captain McGregor attended.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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