Later, in connection with the scheme to make Texas a State of the Union, a bill was passed providing a contribution on the part of the United States of five million dollars, to be applied to the extinguishment of this old debt.

Grund knew of this, and also of the fact that some of this debt, owing to the peculiar conditions of issue, was to be paid in full, while other portions were to be scaled down, and there was to be a false or pre-arranged failure to pass the bill at one session in order to frighten off the outsiders who might have heard and begun to buy the old certificates for profit.

He acquainted the Third National Bank with this fact, and of course the information came to Cowperwood as teller.

He told his wife about it, and so his son, in this roundabout way, heard it, and his clear, big eyes glistened.

He wondered why his father did not take advantage of the situation and buy some Texas certificates for himself.