42, TOMS EXPERIENGE 
of the banks, nad not been to a hotel, and that was 
all I could learn about him. 
I was glad Bragdon had been defeated, but my 
home was gone all the same, and so after a short 
time I called at the sheriff’s office to see the mysteri- 
ous purchaser and learn when he would want posses- 
sion. The sheriff introduced me to Mr. Hawley, of 
Ohio. He informed me that he had not bought the 
farm for himself but for a friend. His instructions 
were to bid as high as four thousand dollars for it, 
and to say to me that his principal, Mr. Samuels, 
would see me in a few days and arrange about pos- 
session. 
TALKING IT OVER. 
And so I went home. I told my wife all about 
the sale. We rejoiced that Bragdon had been de- 
feated, and wondered when the buyer would come, 
and what manner of man he would prove to be. He 
must be well-off financially, or his agent, Mr. Haw- 
ley, would not have felt authorized torbid in the way 
he did. He seemed more intent on beating Bragdon 
than on getting the farm at a low price. » In a few 
days, doubtless, we would see Mr. Samuels and learn 
all about his plans in regard to the farm. - : 
I went over to my tenant’s in the evening and told 
him the result of the sale, and who the purchaser 
was. Although he had taken the tenant house until. 
the coming spring, he voluntarily offered to give it: 
up any time I wanted to move into it—as he sup- 
posed, of course, I would do. Anticipating the sale: 
