“You had better think twice before you refuse my offer for the land,” the man went on. “As I said, it is of no value, particularly, but a friend of mine wants it. I might even offer you twenty-five hundred dollars for it, but that is as high as I can go. Will you take it?”
“I think not,” replied Larry, motioning to his mother to make no answer.
The reply seemed to make the man more angry than ever, and Larry could see him clench his fist, and grit his teeth.
“Would you mind letting me see the deed?” the stranger asked. “It is possible I have made a mistake, and that the land I am after is not that which you own. A glance at the deed will set me right.”
“I’m sorry, but we can’t let you see the deed,” spoke Larry. “I have been told to take good care of it, and not to let strangers have it.”
“But I only want to glance at it,” said the man.
“I can’t let you see it,” said the lad.
“You’ll be sorry for this,” the man exclaimed. “In less than a month you’ll be glad to take five dollars for the place, that is, provided you own it, which I very much doubt. You’ll lose the land, and then you’ll wish you had taken my offer.”
“I can’t help that,” said Larry, firmly. “We will not show you the deed, nor sell you the land at present.”
“Then you can take the consequences,” snapped the man, as he went out.