"I won't, just the same," declared the stranger with some force. "I
promised my father I'd never let the old home go."

"That's the right sentiment, friend."

"I was offered ten thousand for it, and refused it. Then fifteen thousand--
I would not listen to it. I may have to borrow on it, but it will be a
small amount. I'm trying to avoid even that. Let me show you something. See
those documents?" and the speaker showed a neat little package of papers
secured with a rubber band. He selected the outside one and spread it open.
It was a certificate of stock, printed in green and red on fine parchment
paper. Its blanks were filled in with writing in great flourishes, and
there was an immense gold seal in one corner.

"What's that, now?" inquired the farmer with bulging eyes. "Government
bond?"

"Better than a government bond, my friend," assured the stranger. "A
government bond brings a man only four per cent. a year. This stock paid me
ten per cent. in January, twenty per cent. in March, and I was offered
double its face value last week."

"A hundred dollars," said the farmer musingly, noting the handsome
medallion figure at the top of the stock certificate.

"Yes, and worth two hundred, as I tell you. I wouldn't sell it at any
price, but I'm short of ready cash, and I'll pay eight per cent. interest
and give the next dividend as a bonus, for a loan of seventy-five dollars
for thirty days. I'm proud and particular about my business, and I dislike
to ask my friends for the loan."