squadron disappear in a bend of the road, then he sat down near me
and said, "John, you're worried about something and I've a pretty
fair idea what it is. This property is too big a load for you to
carry, eh?"

From the depths of my heart I replied, "It certainly is!"

"Well," said the old gentleman, "it surely has made a hit with me.
I never struck a place I liked half as well as this. How would you
like to sell it to me, then you and Clara J. could live with us,
eh? Come on, now, what d'ye say?"

I sat there utterly unable to say anything.

"What did it cost you; come on, now, John?" the old fellow urged.

"Oh, about $14,000," I whispered, picking out the first figure I
could think of.

"It's worth it and more, too," he said. "I'll give you $20,000 for
it--say the word!"

"Well, if you insist!" I replied, weakly; and the next minute he
danced off to write me a check.

In the tar barrel every time I opened my mouth! Hard luck was
certainly putting the wrapping paper all over me.

Well, the only thing to do now was to hustle up to town in the
morning and inform Bunch that I had sold his property.