28 HAPPY HOLLOW FARM 



might have shaved several hundred dollars 

 from that price by holding out and whip-saw- 

 ing a while. We found that out afterward. 

 If the agent had but known it, he might have 

 doubled the price on us and we shouldn't have 

 turned a hair. So maybe we're even. We cer- 

 tainly wanted that place and we certainly 

 got it. The trade was closed that afternoon. 



"Well, we've bought something," I said to 

 Laura when we were back at the hotel, slicking 

 up a little for supper. To tell the truth, I was 

 just the least trifle dismayed, now that it was 

 all over and the tension relaxed and I could 

 think deliberately of what we had done. I 

 think Laura had something of that feeling, 

 too. 



"Yes, old man," she said. It seemed to me 

 that her tone lacked gayety ; but maybe I was 

 wrong about that. 



"Isn't it beautiful?" I went on. 



"Perfectly beautiful!" she said. There was 

 the ring of enthusiasm this time. "But did 

 you hear what that tenant said? He said we 

 could starve to death on that farm." 



"Oh, well!" I joked. "We could starve to 

 death anywhere, if we wanted to." 



There was a silence. The silence drew out 



