the major-第11节

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〃Don't　see　as　how　he　has　much　claim　on　you；〃　replied　Mr。　Sleighter。　〃But　that's　your　own　business。　　Say；　there　he　comes　now。　　Look　here；　my　offer　is　open　until　six　o'clock。　　After　that　it's　a　new　deal。　　Take　it　or　leave　it。　　I　will　be　at　your　store。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Mr。　Gwynne　stiffly。

Mr。　Sleighter　was　distinctly　annoyed　and　disappointed。　　A　few　minutes'　longer　pressure；　he　was　convinced；　would　have　practically　closed　a　deal　which　would　have　netted　him　a　considerable　profit。　〃Durn　old　fool；〃　he　muttered　to　himself　as　he　passed　out　of　the　room。

In　the　hallway　Mrs。　Gwynne's　kindly　welcome　halted　him。　　She　greeted　him　as　she　would　a　friend。　　Would　he　not　sit　down　for　a　few　moments。　　No；　he　was　busy。　　Mr。　Sleighter　was　quite　determined　to　get　away　from　her　presence。

〃The　children　were　delighted　with　your　description　of　your　western　home；〃　she　said。　　〃The　free　life；　the　beautiful　hills；　the　mountains　in　the　distanceit　must　indeed　be　a　lovely　country。〃

Mr。　Sleighter　was　taken　off　his　guard。　　〃Yes；　ma'am；　that's　lovely　country　all　right。　　They'd　like　it　fine　out　there；　and　healthy　too。　It　would　make　a　man　of　that　little　kid　of　yours。　　He　looks　a　little　on　the　weak　side　to　me。　　A　few　months　in　the　open　and　you　wouldn't　know　him。　　The　girls　too〃

〃Come　in　here　and　sit　down；　won't　you；　Mr。　Sleighter？〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne。

Mr。　Sleighter　reluctantly　passed　into　the　room　and　sat　down。　　He　knew　he　was　taking　a　risk。　　However；　his　offer　was　already　made　and　the　deal　he　believed　would　be　closed　in　the　store　by　six　o'clock。

〃I　suppose　the　land　is　all　taken　up　out　there？〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne。

〃Oh；　yes；　mostly；　unless　away　back。　　Folks　are　comin'　in　all　the　time；　but　there's　still　lots　of　cheap　land　around。〃

〃Cheap　land；　is　there？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Gwynne　with　a　certain　eagerness　in　her　voice。　　〃Indeed　I　should　have　thought　that　that　beautiful　land　would　be　very　dear。〃

〃Why；　bless　your　heart；　no。　　I　know　good　land　going　for　sixseven　eightten　dollars　an　acre。　　Ten　dollars　is　high　for　good　farm　lands；　for　cattle　runs　four　dollars　is　good。　　No；　there's　lots　of　good　land　lying　around　out　of　doors　there。　　If　these　people　around　here　could　get　their　heads　up　long　enough　from　grubbing　in　the　muck　they　wouldn't　stay　here　over　night。　　They'd　be　hittin'　the　trail　for　the　west；　you　bet。〃

Mrs。　Gwynne　turned　her　honest　eyes　upon　him。　　〃Mr。　Sleighter；　I　want　to　ask　your　advice。　　I　feel　I　can　rely　upon　you　＇〃Durn　it　all；　she's　gettin'　her　work　in　all　right；〃　thought　Mr。　Sleighter　to　himself＇；　and　I　am　getting　quite　anxious　in　the　matter。　　You　see；　my　husband　is　determined　to　leave　this　place。　　He　wishes　to　try　something　else。　　Indeed；　he　must　try　something　else。　　We　must　make　a　living；　Mr。　Sleighter。〃　　Mrs。　Gwynne's　voice　became　hurried　and　anxious。　　〃We　were　delighted　last　night　by　your　description　of　that　wonderful　country　in　the　West；　and　the　children　especially。　　I　have　been　wondering　if　we　might　venture　to　try　a　small　farm　in　that　countryquite　a　small　farm。　　We　have　a　little　money　to　invest。　　I　thought　I　might　be　bold　enough　to　ask　you。　　I　know　your　judgment　would　be　good　and　I　felt　somehow　that　we　could　trust　you。　　I　hope　I　am　not　taking　a　liberty；　but　somehow　I　feel　that　you　are　not　a　stranger。〃

〃No；　ma'am；　certainly　not；〃　said　Mr。　Sleighter　in　a　loud　voice；　his　hope　of　securing　〃quick　action　on　that　deal〃　growing　dim。

〃Do　you　happen　to　know　any　farma　small　farmwhich　we　might　be　able　to　buy？　　We　hope　to　receive　four　thousand　dollars　for　this　place。　　I　feel　that　it　is　worth　a　good　deal　more；　but　there　are　not　many　buyers　about　here。　　Then；　of　course；　perhaps　we　value　our　place　too　highly。　　Then　by　your　kind　help　we　have　got　something　out　of　the　businesstwelve　hundred　and　fifty　dollars　I　think　Mr。　Gwynne　said。　　We　are　most　grateful　to　you　for　that；　Mr。　Sleighter。〃　Her　eyes　beamed　on　him　in　a　most　disconcerting　way。　　〃And　so　after　our　obligations　here　are　met　we　might　have　about　forty…five　hundred　dollars　clear。　　Could　we　do　anything　with　that？〃

〃I　donno；　I　donno；〃　said　Mr。　Sleighter　quickly　and　rising　from　his　chair；　〃I　will　think　it　over。　　I　have　got　to　go　now。〃

At　this　moment　Mr。　Gwynne　came　into　the　room。　　〃Oh；　I　am　glad　you　are　not　gone；　Mr。　Sleighter。　　I　have　just　told　Mr。　Martin　that　I　cannot　accept　his　offer。〃

〃Cannot　accept；　Michael！〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne；　dismay　in　her　voice　and　in　her　eyes。

〃I　believe　you　said　your　offer　was　good　until　six；　Mr。　Sleighter？〃

〃Oh；　I　say；　Gwynne；　let's　get　out；　let's　get　over　to　the　store。　It's　kind　of　hot　here；　and　I've　got　to　go。　　Come　on　over　and　we'll　clean　up。〃　　Without　a　farewell　word　to　either　of　them　Mr。　Sleighter　passed　rapidly　from　the　room。

〃I　do　hope　there's　nothing　wrong；　Michael；〃　said　his　wife。　　〃I　fear　I　have　made　a　mistake。　　I　spoke　to　Mr。　Sleighter　about　the　possibility　of　getting　a　small　farm　in　the　West。　　You　were　so　eager　about　it；　Michael　dear；　and　I　spoke　to　Mr。　Sleighter　about　it。　　I　hope　there　is　nothing　wrong。〃

〃Don't　worry；　mother。　　I　have　his　offer　for　five　thousand　dollars。　Of　course　he　is　rather　peculiar；　I　confess；　but　I　believe〃　　The　door　opened　abruptly　upon　them；　admitting　Mr。　Sleighter。

〃See　here；　Mr。　Gwynne；　I　can't　do　no　business　with　you。〃

〃Sir；　you　made　me　an　offer　for　my　farm；〃　said　Mr。　Gwynne　indignantly；　〃and　I　have　just　refused　an　offer　from　Mr。　Martin　on　account　of　yours。〃

〃Oh；　we'll　cut　that　all　out；〃　said　Mr。　Sleighter；　whose　voice　and　manner　indicated　strong　excitement。　　〃Now　don't　talk。　　Listen　to　me；　my　son。　　You　ain't　got　any　right　to　be　playing　around　with　business　men　anyhow。　　Now　I　am　going　to　do　a　little　business　for　you；　if　you　will　allow　me；　ma'am。　　I　take　it　you　want　to　get　away　from　here。〃　　Mr。　Gwynne　nodded；　gazing　at　him　in　astonishment。　〃You　want　to　go　West。〃　　Again　Mr。　Gwynne　nodded。　　〃Well；　there's　only　one　spot　in　the　WestAlberta。　　You　want　a　farm。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Mr。　Gwynne。

〃Yes；　certainly；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne。

〃There's　just　one　farm　that　will　suit　you；　an'　that's　Lakeside　Farm；　Wolf　Willow；　Alberta；　owned　by　H。　P。　Sleighter；　Esq。；　who's　going　to　stump　you　to　a　trade。　　Five　hundred　acres；　one　hundred　broke　an'　a　timber　lot；　a　granary；　stables　and　corral；　no　good；　house；　fair　to　middlin'。　　Two　hundred　an'　fifty　acres　worth　ten　dollars　at　least；　best　out　of　doors；　cattle　run；　two　hundred　acres　worth　five；　swamp　and　sleugh；　fifty　acres；　only　good　to　look　at　but　mighty　pretty　in　the　mornin'　at　sun…up。　　Not　much　money　in　scenery　though。　　Building　worth　between　two　and　three　thousand。　　Your　plant　here　is　worth　about　six　thousand。　　I　know　I　offered　you　five　thousand；　but　I　was　buyin'　then　and　now　I　am　buyin'　and　sellin'。　Anyway；　I　guess　it's　about　even；　an'　we'll　save　you　a　lot　of　trouble　an'　time　an'　money。　　An'　so；　if　you　really　want　a　western　farm；　you　might　just　as　well　have　mine。　　I　did　not　think　to　sell。　Of　course　I　knew　I　must　sell　in　the　long　run；　but　couldn't　just　see　my　place　in　anybody　else's　hands。　　Somehow　it　seems　different　though　to　see　you　folks　on　it。　　You　seem　to　fit。　　Anyway；　there's　the　offer。　　What　do　you　say？〃

〃Sit　down；　Mr。　Sleighter；〃　said　Mr。　Gwynne。　　〃This　is　a　rather　surprising　proposition。〃

Mrs。　Gwynne's　eyes　grew　soft。　　〃Michael；　I　think　it　is　wonderful。〃

But　Mr。　Gwynne　would　not　look　at　his　wife。　　〃Let　me　see；　Mr。　Sleighter；　your　farm；　you　say；　with　buildings；　is　worth　about　six　thousand　to　sixty…five　hundred。　　Mine　is　worth　from　fifty…five　hundred　to　six　thousand。　　I　will　take　your　offer　and　pay　the　difference。〃

〃Oh；　come　off　your　perch；〃　said　Mr。　Sleighter。　　〃You're　doin'　the　highfalutin'　Vere　de　Vere　act　now。　　Listen　to　me。　　The　deal　is　as　level　as　I　can　figger　it。　　Your　farm　and　store　with　the　machine　business　suit　me　all　right。　　I　feel　I　can　place　my　boy　right　here　for　a　while　anyway。　　My　farm；　I　believe；　would　suit　you　better　than　anythin'　else　you　can　get。　　There's　my　offer。　　Take　it　or　leave　it。〃

〃I　think　we　will　take　it；　Mr。　Sleighter；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne。　〃Michael　dear；　I　feel　Mr。　Sleighter　is　right；　and　besides　I　know　he　is　doing　us　a　great　kindness。〃

〃Kindness；　ma'am；　not　at　all。　　Business　is　business；　and　that's　all　there　is　to　it。　　Well；　I'll　be　goin'。　　Think　it　over；　get　the　papers　fixed　up　by　to…morrow。　　No；　don't　thank　me。　　Good…bye。〃

Mrs。　Gwynne　followed　him　to　the　door；　her　face　flushed；　her　eyes　aglow；　a　smile　hovering　uncertainly　about　her　lips。　　〃Mr。　Sleighter；〃　she　said；　〃the　Lord　sent　you　to　us　because　He　knew　we　were　in　need　of　guiding。〃

〃Ho；　ho！〃　laughed　Mr。　Sleighter。　　〃Like　that　Samaritan　chap　in　the　reading；　eh？　　I　guess　you　had　got　among　thieves　all　right；　more　of　'em　perhaps　than　you　recognised　too。〃

〃He　sent　you　to　us；〃　repeated　Mrs。　Gwynne；　offering　him　her　hand。

〃Well；　I　donno　but　that　He　steered　me　to　you。　　But　all　the　same　I　guess　the　advantage　is　to　me　all　right。〃　　Mr。　Sleighter　looked　hard　down　the　street；　then　turned　and　faced　her　squarely。　　〃I　want　to　say　that　it's　done　me　a　pile　of　good　to　have　seen　you；　ma'am。　　It's　made　things　look　different。〃

〃You　are　a　good　man；　Mr。　Sleighter；〃　she　said；　looking　at　him　with　misty　eyes。

〃A　good　man！〃　　Mr。　Sleighter　was　seized　with　a　cough。　　〃A　good　man！　Good　Lord；　ma'am！　nobody　never　found　it　out　but　youdurn　that　cough　anyway。〃　　And　still　troubled　by　his　cough；　Mr。