“Well, boys,” he said finally, “I see nothing wrong with your scheme, and you have my full consent to try it. I don’t predict success, however. Mr. Finkler has been approached on numerous occasions and has always proved a difficult—ah—gentleman to deal with. The fact of the matter is simply that he has cultivated an unreasoning prejudice against the school, the faculty and the students. We have offered to buy his land or to lease it, and we have proffered more money than it is really worth. He has always refused to even consider the matter. Whether he has altered his attitude, I can’t say. I doubt it, however. But there is no harm in talking to him, boys. It may be that he will listen more patiently to you than he ever has to me. I wish you success.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Dolph. “And if he should consent to let us have the land, would you—er—help us pay for it, sir?”
“Certainly. The matter of terms, however, I would advise you to leave open until we can talk it over again. Had you considered making him a definite proposition, Jones?”
“We hadn’t decided on any amount, sir.”
“Well, our last offer to him was to lease two acres of the property for ten years at a yearly rental of, I think it was, three hundred dollars. For the property outright, our offer was two thousand.”
“That seems a lot, sir,” hazarded Prentiss, the Track Team captain.
“Too much,” replied the Doctor. “The land isn’t worth it; at least, it isn’t worth it to any one else. But, as you boys have just said, the athletic field, as it is now, is really inadequate. The school would be quite willing to buy or lease at those figures, and if you can persuade him to let us have the land the money will be ready.”
“Much obliged, sir,” said Dolph. “I don’t believe he will do it, but we do need the land, sir, and I guess there’s no harm in trying.”
“There never is, Jones,” replied the Principal smilingly. “Good luck to you, boys. Let me hear how the negotiations turn out.”
“Well, we can’t call on the old codger today,” said Dolph, when they had left the Doctor. There was a ring of relief in his voice, and the others laughed.