When the railroad lands about Bonneville had been thrown open, there had been almost a rush in the matter of settlement, and Broderson, Annixter, Derrick, and Osterman, being foremost with their claims, had secured the pick of the country.

But the land once settled upon, the P.and S.W.seemed to be in no hurry as to fixing exactly the value of its sections included in the various ranches and offering them for sale.

The matter dragged along from year to year, was forgotten for months together, being only brought to mind on such occasions as this, when the rumour spread that the General Office was about to take definite action in the affair.
"As soon as the railroad wants to talk business with me," observed Annixter, "about selling me their interest in Quien Sabe, I'm ready.
The land has more than quadrupled in value.

I'll bet I could sell it to-morrow for fifteen dollars an acre, and if I buy of the railroad for two and a half an acre, there's boodle in the game." "For two and a half!" exclaimed Genslinger.

"You don't suppose the railroad will let their land go for any such figure as that, do you?
Wherever did you get that idea ?" "From the circulars and pamphlets," answered Harran, "that the railroad issued to us when they opened these lands.