“Oh, I have the twelve seventy-five, all right” said Bob confidently.
“Well, after your applications are passed to patent, you will have to put up $780 more for each section, or $39,000 in all. Have you provided for this additional sum?”
“Why, no sir. I was going to ask you to lend it to me.”
“Indeed! Well, assume that I'm that soft-headed, Bobby, and proceed to proposition Number Three.”
“Well, under the law, my applications must be acted upon within six months after filing. The surveyor-general must approve or disapprove them within six months, and if he approves them—”
“Which he will not” promptly interjected Dunstan.
“I'll sue him and make him. Well, when the applications are sent on to the Commissioner of the General Land Office at Washington for his ratification of the exchange of the lieu lands, they may be hung up there a long time—years, perhaps—”
“Certainly. The land ring will see to that.”
“Then, don't you see, Mr. Dunstan” said Bob, brightening, “I'll have lots of time to get that balance of $39,000 together.”
“I'm so glad” said Homer Dunstan. “Then I won't have to lend you the money after all. Well, when you're an old man, Bobby, and that red head of yours is snowy white, your lands will be passed to patent and—”