“I kep thinkin’ all thet day, it war sich a girl as thet who after awhile become the mother of Pat Cleburne or may be Phil Sheridan.”

A moment later he looked up and said: 

“But I wanted ter see yo’, Jim, to tell yo’ all the boys remember yo’, and all allow yo’ were the dol-durndest tenderfoot thet ever crossed a hoss or fired a rope or a gun.”

“Where can we find a quiet place, Jordan?” Sedgwick asked.

“I know a boss ranch,” said Jordan, “whar we can have a private room and talk all we wanter, only a few steps away.”

They found it a drinking house with private rooms in the rear.

When seated there, Sedgwick soon learned that Jordan had sold everything in Texas—­stock and land—­and had converted all into money in bank—­some $35,000—­and was, to use his own words, “makin’ a tower.”

“But how came yo’ here, Jim?” asked Jordan.

Then Sedgwick told him of his life since the day he left Texas; how he formed a friendship for Browning; how the deal in stocks originated, and how it resulted.

The Texan went into raptures.  “Yo’ don’t tell me?” he said:  “Half a milliun! dod rot it, but thet’s good; thet’s immense! how it would tickle ther boys out thar to know it!  And yo’ give the ole man a cool $100,000?  What did they think of yo’ then?  Har, waiter, give us a quart of y’r—­whatyer call it?  O, yes, Widder Clicko (Cliquot); durned if we don’t sellerbrate.”

They drank their wine, lighted their cigars, and settled down for a talk.

All the old times in Texas had been discussed when Sedgwick said:  “Jordan, I thought you were prosperous and happy, and much loved by all who knew you in Texas.  What possessed you to sell out and leave?”

“I war prosperous,” said Jordan, “doin’ fust-class; war contented, and I don’t believe I hed a enemy in the hull State.

“I hed ther ranch, ther cattle, ther mustangs; didn’t owe a dollar, and hed money in ther bank.  I hed been doin’ right pert, and the property war a-raisin’ every day.  Do yo’ know the blamed igiots was a-talkin’ o’ sendin’ me to ther Legislature.  But after awhile something happened.  A lot o’ ther boys cum in one day and said:  ’Jordan, it’s a blasted shame the way the childer is growin’ up yere.  We orter ‘av a school.’  ’All right,’ says I, ‘school goes.’  So they agreed ter build a school house and ter hire a teacher for six months.  I flung in more’n my shere, and then ther question was whar to build ther school house.  I spoke up and I says:  ‘Why not put it down in the angle of my best section?’ Yo’ know whar ther section lines cross thar.  It leaves a corner in ther field which is a sharp pint in ther road, and broadens as it runs back.  ‘Well,’ they said, ‘but whar’ll the teacher board?’

“Well, yo’ know it’s only six hundred yards up ter my place; so I says:  ’I han’t chick or child, but I’m bound ter stay by ther school; send ther teacher up yere.  He can do chores enough for his board, if he is techy at all on that pint.’