IN DAKOTA. 35 
T could not pay the amount, and, the sheriff, as in- 
structed, made the levy, and a few days later my fine 
farm was advertised at Sheriff's sale. 
A LAND SHARK. 
By this time I was able to go about without usiug 
crutches, bnt the broken leg was not strong enough 
to allow of my doing much work. I rode to the 
county seat one day to see if anything could be done 
to save my property. There [ learned that Mr. Grims- 
ley had gone east and did not expect to return, and 
that he had sold the mortgage to aregular land shark 
named Richard Bragdon. It seems that Bragdon had 
heard of my accident, and feeling sure that I would 
not be able to pay the notes, had bought them, ex- 
pecting to buy in the property at a heavy sacrifice, 
and probably also get the relinquishment of my tree 
claim. 
‘You needn't expect any mercy from Braedon,” 
said a friend whom I consulted about the matter, 
‘there is nothing of that kind in his composition. 
He'd sell you out if it turned you and your family 
out on the prairie without a board to shelter you, if 
he could make ten cents by it.” 
HIS POUND OF FLESH. 
' Nevertheless, I went to see Bragdon. He was a 
thin, chilly-looking man; bis hand was cold as a 
- snake. In fact he seemed snaky, even to his flat, re- 
treating forehead, and very small, dark beady eyes. 
