There's always something of this sort that prevents my cordial co-operation with Neergard--always something in the schemes which hints of--of squeezing--of something underground--" "Like the water which he's going to squeeze out of the wells ?" Selwyn laughed.
"Phil," said his brother-in-law, "if you think anybody can do a profitable business except at other people's expense, you are an ass." "Am I ?" asked Selwyn, still laughing frankly.
"Certainly.

The land is there, plain enough for anybody to see.

It's always been there; it's likely to remain for a few aeons, I fancy.
"Now, along comes Meynheer Julius Neergard--the only man who seems to have brains enough to see the present value of that parcel to the Siowitha people.

Everybody else had the same chance; nobody except Neergard knew enough to take it.

Why shouldn't he profit by it ?" "Yes--but if he'd be satisfied to cut it up into lots and do what is fair--" "Cut it up into nothing! Man alive, do you suppose the Siowitha people would let him?
They've only a few thousand acres; they've _got_ to control that land.