"That's certainly right," said Keith, heartily.
"I tell him I'm a-goin' to hold to that for Phrony. Phrony says she wants me to sell it to him, too. But women-folks don't know about business."
Keith wondered what effect this piece of information had on Wickersham, and also what further design the old squire had in mind.
"I think it's about time to do something with that land. If all he says is true,--not about my land (he makes out as my land is situate too far away ever to be much account--fact is, he don't allow I've got any land; he says it's all his anyway), but about other lands--everybody else's land but mine,--it might be a good time to look around. I know as my land is the best land up here. I holds the key to the situation. That's what we used to call it durin' the war.
"Well, there ain't but three ways to git to them coal-lands back up yonder in the Gap: one's by way of heaven, and I 'lows there ain't many land-speculators goin' by that way; the other is through hell, a way they'll know more about hereafter; and the third's through my land."
Keith laughed and waited.
"He seems to be hangin' around Phrony pretty considerable?"
Keith caught the gleam in the old fellow's deep eye, and looked away.
"I can't make it out. Phrony she likes him."
Keith fastened his gaze on something out of the window.