dollars an acre and the buildings at least two thousand more. Five
thousand would be a ridiculously low figure and six thousand not
extravagantly high for both buildings and farm. The farm with the store
and machine business attached might offer a fair opening to his son,
who was already weary of school and anxious to engage in business for
himself.

"Guess I'll take a whirl out of the old boy," he said to himself. "He's
a durn fool anyway and if I don't get his money some one else will."

In the afternoon he made his way to the store. "Boss ain't in?" he
inquired of the clerk.

"No, he's at the house, I guess."

"Back soon?"

"Don't know. Guess he's busy over there."

"Seen Mr. Martin around?"

"Yes, he was here a while ago. Said he would be in again later."

Mr. Sleighter greatly disliked the idea of doing business with Mr.
Gwynne at his own house. "Can't do no business with his missis and
kids around," he said to himself. "Can't get no action with that woman
lookin' on seemingly. But that there old Martin geyser is on the job and
he might close things up. I guess I will wander over."

To his great relief he found Mr. Gwynne alone and without preliminaries,