CHAPTER XIX. THE REASON WHY
HIRAM found Abel Pollock mending harness in the shed. Hiram opened his business bluntly, and told the farmer what was up. Mr. Pollock scratched his head, listened attentively, and then sat down to digest the news.
“You gotter move—jest when you've got rightly settled on that place?” he demanded. “Well, that's 'tarnal bad! And from what Henry tells me, you're a young feller with idees, too.”
“I don't care so much for myself,” Hiram hastened to say. “It's Mrs. Atterson I'm thinking about. And she had just made up her mind that she was anchored for the rest of her life. Besides, I don't think it is a wise thing to sell the property at that price.”
“No. I wouldn't sell if I was her, for no sixteen hundred dollars.”
“But she's got to, you see, Mr. Pollock. Pepper has the option signed by her Uncle Jeptha——”
“Jeptha Atterson was no fool,” interrupted Pollock. “I can't understand his giving an option on the farm, with all this talk of the railroad crossing the river.”
“But, Mr. Pollock!” exclaimed Hiram, eagerly, “you must know all about this option. You signed as a witness to Uncle Jeptha's signature.”
“No! you don't mean that?” exclaimed the farmer. “My name to it, too?”
“Yes. And it was signed before Caleb Schell the notary public.”