“So it was—so it was, boy!” declared the other, suddenly smiting his knee. “I remember I witnessed Uncle Jeptha's signature once. But that was way back there in the winter—before he was took sick.”
“Yes, sir?” said Hiram, eagerly.
“That was an option on the old farm. So it was. But goodness me, boy, Pepper must have got him to renew it, or something. That option wouldn't have run till now.”
Hiram told him the date the paper was executed.
“That's right, by Jo! It was in February.”
“And it was for a year?”
Mr. Pollock stared at him in silence, evidently thinking deeply.
“If you remember all about it, then,” Hiram continued, “it's hardly worth while going to Mr. Schell, I suppose.”
“I remember, all right,” said Pollock, slowly. “It was all done right there in Cale Schell's store. It was one rainy afternoon. There was several of us sitting around Cale's stove. Pepper was one of us. In comes Uncle Jeptha. Pepper got after him right away, but sort of on the quiet, to one side.
“I heard 'em. Pepper had made him an offer for the farm that was 'way down low, and the old man laughed at him.