I could not do that; I could not serve in the ranks after being General of the army.

So I thought I would depart and go abroad into the world somewhere.

Just at this juncture, Dan, my associate in the reportorial department, told me, casually, that two citizens had been trying to persuade him to go with them to New York and aid in selling a rich silver mine which they had discovered and secured in a new mining district in our neighborhood.

He said they offered to pay his expenses and give him one third of the proceeds of the sale.
He had refused to go.

It was the very opportunity I wanted.