“I thought,” said the squire, frowning, “I had given you to understand that I cannot do this. You owe me a large sum in accrued interest.”
“But if I make shift to pay this?”
“I should say the same. It may as well come first as last. You can’t hold the place, and there is no chance of your being better off by waiting.”
“I understand that the new railroad might go through my farm. That would put me on my feet.”
“There is no certainty that the road will ever be built. Even if it were, it would not be likely to cross your farm.”
“I see, Squire Sheldon, you are bound to have the place.”
“There is no need to put it that way, Mr. Hooper. I lent you money on mortgage. You can’t pay the mortgage, and of course I foreclose. However, I will buy the farm and allow you eighteen hundred dollars for it. That will give you five hundred dollars over and above the money you owe me.”
“The farm is worth three thousand dollars.”
“Nonsense, Mr. Hooper. Still if you get an offer of that sum TODAY I will advise you to sell.”
“I certainly won’t take eighteen hundred.”