"Hippy!" called Tom as he saw Lieutenant Wingate and others of the Overland outfit strolling towards camp. "Meet Mr. Ainsworth, and his guide, Mr. Skinner. They are here on a business matter, the nature of which I do not know. We are ready to hear what you have to say, Mr. Ainsworth."
Grace rose and said she would have Mrs. Shafto prepare food for the two men.
"I'm ready to hear the story, Ainsworth," announced Hippy, nodding.
"Are you the party that bought Section Seventy-two, Mr. Wingate?" asked Ainsworth.
Hippy nodded.
"Without wishin' to be personal, may I ask what you paid for it?"
"You have my permission to ask anything you wish. I reserve the right to answer or not. The answer is not! in this instance," replied Hippy.
"No offense, no offense," answered the agent, assuming a jovial tone. "I represent certain interests that have been negotiating for this very property, parties that already have large holdings in this vicinity, and who wish an uninterrupted stretch of timber and river to the lakes."
"Yes?" questioned Hippy.
"Of course they knew you bought on speculation, because you ain't lumbermen, and they reckoned they'd buy it from you so as to give you a fine profit on your investment. That's why I asked you what you paid for the property."