"First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

 

"I have only twenty-five dollars at my command now, Squire Carter. Perhaps something may turn up between now and next Tuesday."

 

"That is extremely likely," said the squire, in a tone of sarcasm.

 

"Have you anything to propose? Are you willing to wait a month?"

 

"No, sir; I am not. It will be extreme folly on my part. Do you expect to come into a fortune within thirty days?"

 

"No, sir."

 

"So I presume. However, I have a plan to propose. I did intend to say that I would allow you fifty dollars for your two best cows. But even that would not pay the deficit. I believe your son owns a boat."

 

"I do," said Andy, looking up. He began to understand the squire's plan.

 

"I am willing to allow twenty dollars for it, as my son has taken a fancy to it, and his own boat was destroyed through the malice of a tramp. This, with fifty dollars for your two cows, would pay the interest all but twenty dollars, which you say you are able to pay in cash."

 

"Squire Carter, my cows are of a choice breed, and are worth fifty dollars each."

 

"They would not fetch that sum. Indeed, twenty-five dollars each is all that you would have any chance of getting. If you doubt it, you may try to get an offer elsewhere."

 

"What should I do without the cows? I depend on the butter and milk I obtain from them for a good part of my cash income."

 

"That is your lookout," said the squire, shrugging his shoulders.

 

"You don't appear to have much consideration for me."

 

"Business is business, Mr. Grant. You owe me ninety dollars. If you can't pay me in one form, you must in another."

 

"I would like to say a word, Squire Carter," said Andy. "The boat for which you offer twenty dollars cost Mr. Gate seventy-five."

 

"I don't believe it."

 

"I have his word for it."

 

"Very likely, but it wouldn't be the first case where a man overstated the price of his purchase."

 

"Mr. Gale would not deceive me in that way."

 

"Have it as you like. The boat is second-hand now, and worth far less than when it was new," persisted the squire.

 

"There is considerable difference between twenty dollars and seventy-five."

 

"Well, I might stretch a point and call it twenty-five, as Conrad is desirous of having the boat. In that case there would be five dollars coming to you, which you would doubtless find very handy."

 

"I think I shall have to decline your offer, Squire Carter."

 

"And leave your poor father in trouble? I thought better of you."

 

Squire Carter was surprised to find that both Andy and his father were cool, and apparently not suffering anxiety. He had thought they would be sad, and would resort to entreaties.

 

"Does it strike you, Squire Carter, that you are trying to drive a very hard bargain with my father and myself? You offer a very low sum for the cows and for my boat."

 

"If you can get more anywhere else, you are quite at liberty to do so," said the squire, in a tone of indifference.

 

He felt that father and son were in his power, and that he would have his own way in the end.

 

"I don't think we shall sell at all," said Andy, calmly.

 

"What!" ejaculated the squire. "Not sell at all? Do you think I will allow the interest to remain unpaid?"

 

"The interest will be paid."

 

"How? Where will you get the money?"

 

"I will supply my father with what he needs."

 

"You talk like a fool!" said the squire, sharply. "Do you think I will allow myself to be humbugged by a boy?"

 

"No, sir; but you can rely upon what I say."

 

"Have you borrowed the money from Mr. Gale?"

 

"I have not seen Mr. Gale for several months. He does not know of my father's pecuniary trouble. If he did, I think he would come to his and my assistance. As to the boat, I value it not only on account of its intrinsic worth, but............