"I don't know as to that. But, as I said a while ago, Mr. Colton, I
couldn't sell that land to you now."

"Why not?"

"Because, if there were no other reason, I promised not to sell it
without telling another person first."

He threw down his cigar and stood up. I rose also.

"I see," he said, with sarcasm. "I knew there was something beside
public spirit. You think, by hanging off and playing me against this
other sucker, you can get a higher price. Well, if that's the game, I'll
keep him busy."

He took out his watch, glanced at it, and thrust it back into his
pocket.

"I've wasted time enough over this fool thing," he declared. "Now that I
know what the game is we'll talk to the point. It's highway robbery, but
I might have expected to be robbed. I'll give you six hundred for that
land."

I did not answer. I was holding my temper by main strength and I could
not trust myself to speak.

"Well?" he sneered. "That shakes your public spirit some, hey? What do
you say?"

"No," I answered, and started for the door.