"It is worth a good deal more."
"Who will pay more?" demanded the quire, throwing himself back in his chair.
"I will," answered Ben.
"Ho, ho! that's a good joke," said the squire. "Why, you are not worth five dollars in the world."
"It doesn't matter whether I am or not. My mother won't sell."
"Then pay the mortgage," said the squire angrily.
"I am prepared to do so. Have you a release with you?"
Squire Davenport stared at Ben in amazement.
"Enough of this folly!" he said sternly. I am not in the humor for jokes."
"Squire Davenport, I am not joking. I have here money enough to pay the mortgage," and Ben drew from his pocket a thick roll of bills.