NABOTH'S VINEYARD 291 



Jackson sent for his horse, and just before he 

 mounted, I said, " Are you thinking of selling 

 your farm ? " 



" I used to think of it, but I've been to school 

 lately and can * do my sums ' better. No, I guess 

 I won't sell the paternal acres ; but who wants 

 to buy ? " 



" Kyrle, here, is looking for a farm about the 

 size of yours, and to tell you the truth I should 

 like him for a neighbor. It's dollars to dough- 

 nuts that I could give him a whole herd of bulls." 



" Indeed, you can't do anything of the kind ! 

 I wouldn't take a gold dollar from you until I 

 had it tested. I'm on to your curves." 



"But seriously, Jackson, I must have more land ; 

 my stock will eat me out of house and home by 

 the time the factory is running full steam. What 

 would you say to a proposition of $10,000 for one 

 hundred acres along my north line ? " 



" A year ago I would have jumped at it. Now 

 I say nit.' I need it all, Doctor ; I told you I 

 was going to tag on. But what's the matter 

 with the old lady's quarter across your south 

 road ? " 



" Nothing's the matter with the land, only she 

 won't sell it at any price." 



" I know ; but that drunken brute of a son will 

 sell as soon as she's under the sod, and they say 

 the poor old girl is on her last legs, down with 

 distemper or some other beastly disease. I'll tell 

 you what I'll do. I'll sound the renegade son 



