“I've got time enough, ain't I?” returned the real estate man, eyeing Hiram in his very slyest way.
“I expect you have—if it really runs a year.”
“You seen it, didn't you?” demanded Pepper.
“But we'd like Mr. Strickland to see it.”
“He's goin' to act for Mrs. Atterson?” queried the man, with a scowl.
“Oh, yes.”
“Well, he'll see it-when I'm ready to take it up. Don't you fret,” retorted Pepper, and turned away.
This did not encourage the young farmer, nor was there anything in the man's manner to yield hope to Mrs. Atterson that she could feel secure in her title to the farm. So Hiram said nothing to her about meeting the man.
But the youth was very much puzzled. It really did seem as though Pepper was afraid to show that paper to Mr. Strickland.
“There's something queer about it, I believe,” declared the youth to himself. “Somewhere there is a trick. He's afraid of being tripped up on it. But, why does he wait, if he knows the railroad is going to demand a strip of the farm and he can get a good price for it?