I was several times on the very verge of decision, and how easily and differently one's whole future may be affected! Perhaps by now a millionaire!--perhaps a pauper! At one time I was on the point of buying a cotton plantation in the South.

The only obstacle was the shortage of convict labour! A convict negro _must_ work; the free negro won't.

Finally I bought some city lots in the town of Amarillo--the most valuable lots I could find, right at the city's pulse, the centre of business; in my judgment they would in all probability always be at the centre, and that as the city grew so would their value grow, and thus the unearned increment would be secured.

I bought these lots by sheer pressure; the owner did not want to sell, but I made him name his own price, and closed the deal, to his astonishment.
It was a record price and secured me some ridicule.

But the funniest part has to come.