"Thank you, Mr. Taylor. The time may come when shall remind you of your promise."
"You will find I have not forgotten it. And now to business. We will go to a lawyer and have the necessary papers drawn up, which you shall sign in behalf of your principal."
The business was speedily arranged, and by supper-time Ben found that he had nothing further to detain him in Centerville. He felt that he had done a smart stroke of business. Mrs. Hamilton had been surprised at receiving an offer of five thousand dollars for the farm, yet he had sold it for forty thousand!
As they were returning from the lawyer's office they met farmer Jackson just returning from the post office.
"By the way, Mr. Jackson," said Taylor, "you will perhaps be interested to learn that your farm has been sold."
The farmer paused, and looked troubled.
"Are you going to turn me out of the house?" he asked.
"Not if you wish to live in it. I shall employ workmen at once to sink wells, and develop the property. They will need to board somewhere. Are you willing to board them?"
"Yes; I shall be glad to," answered Jackson. "I am a poor man, and it's hard work living by farming."
"Very well; we can no doubt make an arrangement. I am obliged to go to New York to complete arrangements for the transfer of the property, but I shall come back as soon as possible and commence operations."