That's why they are contented with a yearly agreement with the farmers instead of buying the four thousand acres.

Why put a lot of good money out of commission when they can draw interest on it and toss an insignificant fraction of that interest as a sop to the farmers?
Do you see?
That's your millionaire method--and it's what makes 'em in the first place." He drew a large fancy handkerchief from his pistol-pocket and wiped the beads from the bridge of his limber nose.

But they reappeared again.
"Now," he said, "I am satisfied that, working very carefully, we can secure options on every acre of the four thousand.

There is money in it either way and any way we work it; we get it coming and going.

First of all, if the Siowitha people find that they really cannot get on without controlling these acres--why"-- and he snickered so that his nose curved into a thin, ruddy beak--"why, Captain, I suppose we _could_ let them have the land.