"Take a chance," interrupted Keith. "If at the end of two weeks I don't pay you cash, you can do what you please. Call off the sheriff's sale at the last minute; I'll pay the costs myself. Come, that's fair enough. You can't lose a cent."
"All right," agreed Jones after a minute.
"Remember: it's part of the bargain that you state everywhere that you're going to force this sale, and that you don't let anybody bluff you."
The affair made quite a little stir. Men like Sam Brannan, Dick Blatchford, the contractor, and Jim Polk discussed Keith and his ability.
"Got a pretty wife, too," added Brannan. "—never heard of the fall of man."
"Well, she's going to, if the Morrell woman has her way," observed Ben
Sansome dryly.
Polk stretched his long legs, and smiled his desiccated little smile.
"He's a pretty enterprising youngster—more ways than one," said he.
XX
On the evening of the third day after his latest interview with Doctor Jones, Keith threw down his paper with a cry of triumph. He had been scanning the columns of every issue with minute care, combing even the fine print for the auctioneer's advertisements. Here was what he wanted: top of column, third page, where every one would be sure to see it. The commissioners issued a signed statement, calling public attention to the details of their appointment, and warning that titles issued under sheriff's sale would be considered invalid.