"That's my name, stranger," answered the old man.
"My name is Taylor. I wrote to you last week."
"I got the letter," said Jackson, going on with his work. It was his plan not to seem too eager but to fight shy in order to get his price. Besides, though he would have been glad to close the bargain on the spot, there was an embarrassing difficulty. The farm was not his to sell, and he was anxiously awaiting Mrs. Hamilton's answer to his proposal.
"She can't have heard of the oil discoveries," he thought, "and five thousand dollars will seem a big price for the farm. She can't help agreeing to my terms."
This consideration made him hopeful, but for all that, he must wait, and waiting he found very tantalizing.
"Have you decided to accept my offer, Mr. Jackson?"
"Waal, I'll have to take a leetle time to consider. How much did you say you'd give?"
"Forty thousand dollars."
"I'd ought to have fifty."
"Forty thousand dollars is a big sum of money."