“He can’t.  He is a poor man, and he has no moneyed friends.  I confess I was a little afraid that a nephew of his just returned from Montana might be able to help him, but I learn that he has only brought home five hundred dollars while the mortgage, including interest, calls for thirteen hundred.”

“Then you appear to be safe.  When did you say the matter would be settled?”

“This afternoon at two o’clock.  You had better stay over and take supper with me.  I shall be prepared to talk with you at that time.”

“Very well.”

From a window of the farmhouse Cyrus Hooper saw Squire Sheldon and his guest walking by the farm, and noticed the interest which they seemed to feel in it.  But for the assurance which he had received of help to pay the mortgage he would have felt despondent, for he guessed the subject of their conversation.  As it was, he felt an excusable satisfaction in the certain defeat of the squire’s hopes of gain.

“It seems that the more a man has the more he wants, Jefferson,” he said to his nephew.  “The squire is a rich man—­the richest man in Burton—­but he wants to take from me the little property that I have.”

“It’s the way of the world, Uncle Cyrus.  In this case the squire is safe to be disappointed, thanks to my young friend, Rodney.”

“Its lucky for me, Jefferson, that you came home just the time you did.  If you had come a week later it would have been too late.”

“Then you don’t think the squire would have relented?”

“I know he wouldn’t.  I went over a short time since and had a talk with him on the subject.  I found he was sot on gettin’ the farm into his own hands.”

“If he were willing to pay a fair value it wouldn’t be so bad.”

“He wasn’t.  He wanted to get it as cheap as he could.”

“I wonder,” said Jefferson Pettigrew reflectively, “whether I shall be as hard and selfish if ever I get rich.”

“I don’t believe you will, Jefferson.  I don’t believe you will.  It doesn’t run in the blood.”

“I hope not Uncle Cyrus.  How long have you known the squire?”

“Forty years, Jefferson.  He is about ten years younger than I am.  I was a young man when he was a boy.”

“And you attend the same church?”

“Yes.”

“And still he is willing to take advantage of you and reduce you to poverty.  I don’t see much religion in that.”

“When a man’s interest is concerned religion has to stand to one side with some people.”

It was in a pleasant frame of mind that Squire Sheldon left his house and walked over to the farmhouse which he hoped to own.  He had decided to offer eighteen hundred dollars for the farm, which would be five hundred over and above the face of the mortgage with the interest added.

This of itelf would give him an excellent profit, but he expected also, as we know, to drive a stiff bargain with the new railroad company, for such land as they would require to use.