The Squire, who was a good deal muddled, at last made up his mind that the lawyer was right, and so declared that the matter should be dropped.
No sooner had he rendered this decision, than Ben arose and said, addressing the Squire:
“Now, sir, I mean to have you arrested for blackmail!”
“Wh-wh-what do you mean?” stammered the Squire, frightened half out of his wits.
“I mean,” returned Hogan, “that there has been bribery here, and that the law does not permit such a case to be settled. I shall let the matter rest, however, providing I am not molested in my own business. I’ve opened a house here in Petrolia, myself, and to-morrow being Sunday, I invite you all to come around and get a drink. For I want it understood that I am going to sell liquor when and where I please!”
It can readily be imagined that this speech created a good deal of a sensation among the hearers. Nevertheless, the invitation was accepted, the lawyers visited Ben’s house the next day, got gloriously drunk before they left, and that ended all further disputes in the court. This decisive action on Ben’s part secured to the Petrolia liquor dealers the right of carrying on their business—which otherwise they probably would never have obtained.
After a short time, Ben found that he needed a bigger house than the one which he had bought. He endeavored to get a lease of some suitable premises, but the feeling against him was so strong that he found it impossible to do this. He therefore resolved to build a house for himself.
Going out into the suburbs of the town, he selected an open field in which oats were growing. This field was the property of Mr. Jamison, already alluded to. Without consulting that gentleman, Ben went to work on a certain Monday, and in just one week’s time erected a structure, one hundred by twenty feet, containing fifteen bedrooms, a ball room, bar, and other requisites. He had this house open and in full blast before the worthy Mr. Jamison had so much as discovered that a building had been erected on his property. When he did discover it he was naturally excited and enraged. He went out to the spot, and, meeting Ben, asked him if he knew who had put up that house.
Ben said he hadn’t the remotest idea who did it.
“Don’t you know I own this ground?” demanded Mr. Jamison, angrily.