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 A letter from him crossed this salutary advice of mine. Tom Willett said the law was no good in Texas! He seemed sorrowful about it. There was no doubt that Briggs ought to be hanged. That was as plain as anything could be. But Briggs had friends, and was very quick with a pistol. And he had money.

"You can't hang a man with money in the West," said Willett. "I seem reduced to first principles. And first principles here are made of lead and powder and steel. I suppose they're made like that in most places."

I often think I have no luck to speak of, but I have to own that fate treated me with extraordinary indulgence the very day after I got this letter. A man with some mining interests in Mexico asked me if I would undertake to go out there for him and make a few investigations into the ways of his English manager. As the money was sufficient I closed with him right off, pulled up my picket pins, and started for Liverpool that night. I cabled to Willett, "Don't hurry; I'm coming."