the deal."

I shook my head.

"I understand your position, Mr. Colton," I said, "but I can't say yes.
Not now, at any rate."

"Why not? Isn't five hundred enough?"

"It's a good offer."

"Then why not accept it?"

"Because, if I were certain that I wanted to sell, I could not accept
any offer just now."

"Why not? See here! are you afraid the town will be sore because the
road is closed?"

"It would be a great inconvenience to them."

"It's a greater one to me as it is. Can you afford to be a
philanthropist? Are you one of those public-spirited citizens we read
about?"

He was sneering now, and my anger, which had lessened somewhat when he
spoke of his wife's ill health, was rising again.

"Are you?" he repeated.