Dave Porter at Oak Hall. Stratemeyer Edward

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СКАЧАТЬ it is my business," responded the boy, with spirit. "Do you know what your son did yesterday? He came here and told Mr. Potts he was a lunatic. If Mr. Potts is that, then I am going to see to it that you don't cheat him."

      "Cheat him!" Aaron Poole grew white. "Boy, if you talk like that to me, I'll—I'll wring your neck for you!"

      "I've got as much right to talk that way as your son has a right to call Mr. Potts crazy and a lunatic."

      "I am not going to stand here and let you insult ​me. I want you to keep still, otherwise I'll have the law on you."

      "Dave, don't you think it would be best to take up with Mr. Poole's offer?" asked Caspar Potts, tremblingly.

      "No, sir—at least not until you have asked some folks around Crumville what the land is worth."

      "But—but——"

      "Ben Basswood said there was some talk of running a trolley line from Haverfield through Crumville to Dixonville. If it went past here——"

      "The boy is crazy," interrupted Aaron Poole. "The farm isn't worth a cent over what I am offering for it."

      "I believe he is right, Dave."

      "Then you'll take me up?" came quickly from Aaron Poole. He could scarcely suppress a smile of satisfaction.

      "Don't do it," said Dave. "Wait at least until we can ask some folks in town about it. I can see Mr. Basswood to-morrow, and Mr. Jackson, and perhaps Mr. Gay, the lawyer."

      "Boy, you have no right to interfere in this fashion," stormed Aaron Poole. "This is a piece of business between Mr. Potts and myself alone. Mr. Potts, you had better send the lad away. He doesn't know what he is talking about."

      Caspar Potts gazed at the rich man, and then at Dave, in bewilderment.

      ​"I—I don't know——" he began, hesitatingly.

      "If everything is fair and square there will be no harm in waiting a few days," continued Dave. "The farm isn't going to run away."

      "Surely that is true, Mr. Poole."

      "I've got to go away to-morrow—down to New York on business," answered Aaron Poole. "I must close up this business without delay."

      "Dave, what shall it be?" questioned Caspar Potts, pleadingly.

      "I say, wait," came firmly from the youth.

      "Then I'll wait," said the old man, and nothing would shake him from that determination. Aaron Poole argued for half an hour, and then strode from the cottage, shaking his head, angrily.

      "I'll have the law on you," he cried, shrilly. "It's pay up or take the consequences. You might have had a hundred dollars extra; now you won't get a cent!" And then he jumped into his buggy and drove off.

      As soon as his visitor was gone, Caspar Potts sank back in his chair in a state of collapse.

      "Oh, Dave, I trust we have done what is best!" he groaned. "Perhaps—perhaps it would have been better to have sold out to him. A hundred dollars in cash is a good deal of money to us these days!"

      "I'm satisfied of one thing," returned the boy. "He wouldn't offer that money unless the place ​was worth it. Aaron Poole isn't giving away a cent. His face shows how grasping he is."

      "Yes. But what shall we do next?"

      "I'll go down to town after dinner and ask those men I mentioned what is best to do. I am sure Mr. Basswood will tell me the truth about the value of the land, and so will Mr. Jackson and Mr. Gay."

      ​

      CHAPTER III

      dave's presence of mind

       Table of Contents

      Dave was as good as his word, and by one o'clock he entered Mr. Jackson's store. The proprietor, a portly man, greeted him pleasantly.

      "More huckleberries, Dave?"

      "Not to-day, Mr. Jackson. I came to ask you for a little information."

      "Oh! What is it?"

      "I guess you know our farm pretty well, don't you?"

      "Why, yes; I've known that place for a good number of years. When I was a boy I used to go fishing in the brook back of the woods up there."

      "What would you think the farm would bring if put up for sale?"

      "Hum! That's a serious question to answer off-hand. How many acres?"

      "Eighty-six, and fifty cleared."

      "How big is the house?"

      "Four good rooms. Then we have a small barn, a cowshed, a poultry house, besides two cows, a horse, and all the tools."

      "Are you trying to sell out?"

      ​"Not exactly, but perhaps we'll have to. Now, how much ought the place to bring?"

      "Two thousand dollars at least, I should say. Of course at a forced sale places don't bring so much."

      "Well, don't you think it would bring more than thirteen hundred dollars?"

      "It ought to. But once in a while a place goes for a song. Have you a purchaser?"

      "Aaron Poole holds a mortgage for twelve hundred dollars, and he wants Mr. Potts to let him have it for the mortgage and a hundred dollars."

      "Aaron Poole always was a close one for a bargain. You're not going to take him up?"

      "I don't think so."

      "Neither would I. Better risk an auction sale," answered Mr. Jackson, and turned away to wait on a customer that had entered.

      From the store, Dave turned his footsteps toward Mr. Basswood's office, which was several blocks away. Ben's father had charge of several estates.

      "Yes, Ben told me about your trouble," said Mr. Basswood, after greeting Dave. "I am sorry to hear of this. So Aaron Poole wants the place for the mortgage and a hundred, eh? I think I'd risk a sale first."

      "That is just what Mr. Jackson said."

      "Property around Crumville is constantly ​increasing in value, and if that new trolley deal should go through it would certainly enhance the value of your farm very greatly. I am sorry I am not just now in a position to take up that mortgage for Mr. Potts. But I can tell you of somebody who might do so, and that is Mr. Wadsworth."

      "You mean the gentleman who owns the jewelry works?"

      "Exactly. He has plenty of cash СКАЧАТЬ