Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-10-15
A Yankee Trap.
lOriginal,l

Ezra bONuluu - IApStliitolo h''u a.
ways been English country gentlemen
ana landed proprietors, therefore when
he got involved in a lawsuit with his
next door ncighbor and lost pretty
much everything he had he gathered
up the fragments and came to America
with Il view to continuing the family
traditional life. He was impractical
and visionary, fancying that IN this
land of large production he would
make Il fortune and so back to Eng
land to live under his beloved British
flag. He had daughter, Hilma, twen-
ty years old, whom he wished to re-
main single until this happy return,
when he hoped his altered fortunes
might enable him to marry her to
younger son of some nobleman.
But Hilma Bowman fell in love with
young farmer, Mark Evans, who
owned the adjoining property, and her
love was returned. When he proposed
she told him frankly Of her fathers
plans for her. Mark proposed to marry
her despite the old mans opposition.
but Hilma was an English girl, and
marriage without her parents consent
was with her entirely out of the
question.
Had Ezra Bowman known Of the sit
uation he would have forbidden Mark
the house AS 1t was, he took quite a
fancy to the young man and made him
welcome whenever he came to his
farm, and when Mark came it was os-
tensibly to call on the old man, max
ing 1t appear that the other members
of the family were secondary consid-
GRAFTON. Bowman was very fond of
games, and Mark was the only person
living near by that he could get to play
with him. Chess and checkers We're
his favorites. and, since in Mark he
found q worthy opponent, he was al
ways ready for a game with him.
Now, whatever be the strong points
of the British people, they can never
cope with their American cousins in
shrewdness. Bowman was as stolid
as a stone meeting house; Evans was
a Yankee with all that name expresses.
Bowman would fight for an opinion
till every support had been knocked
from under it, then fight on with just
as much obstinacy as If 1t had not
been disproved. One day Evans told
the old man that he was thinking of
selling his farm 1t was splendid
piece Of property, and Bowman would
have been delighted to get 1t If he
could have raised the money to buy it.
Nevertheless he asked Mark what
would be his price for it. Mark re-
piled that he had not made up his
mind to sell it, but if he could get
S25, 900 for it he might let 1t 60. Since
this was nearly $4,000 more money
than Bowman had the conversation
was dropped.
Soon after this Mark took the man
whose son-in-law he wished to be over
his farm, showing him the land, the
dwellings, the barns, the stock, the
farming tools, everything. They were
all in prime condition, and Bowman's
cupidty was excited 1t troubled him
that he had no money with which to
buy such a fine property, and he con-
fessed this to its owner. Mark told
him that he would sell the property to
him for one-half of what he would sell
it to any one else. But as the half was
no more to be raised than the whole
this did not help matters.
One day when the two were playing
checkers Mark said:
"Mr. Bowman, I've made up my
mind to go west and shall sell my
farm. Now, since you want it l wish
you to have it. Make me an offer"
II couldn't raise $500" said the old
man.
They finished the game, MaNz beat
ing because his opponent was think
ing Of the coveted property. Then
Mark leaned back in his chair and said:
I'll tell you what I'll do, Mr.. Bow
man, with you-mind, with you, not
with any one else. I'll sell you my
farm on these terms. Let me see. The
farm is $50 acres. I will sell It to you
with everything on 1t on the following
terms: Fer the first ten acres you are
to pay me at the rate OF l cent an acre,
the second ten acres at the rate Of
cents.an acre, the third ten acres at the
rate of cents, the fourth s cents, and
in this proportion to the end. But
will sell all or none"
There was covetOusness in the old
mans eye. He looked for some reason
why Mark wished to sell so cheap.
Surely he had been over the property
and had found everything in good con-
aitiOn. He ran up the amount in his
head till he had reached the eighth lot
Of ten acres, which he found to cost
only $3.50.
"Are you going to give me the farm?"
he asked.
"NOj propose to sell it to you"
Bowman went on figuring
81 won't leave the offer open," said
Mark.
Done" said Bowman, ceasing to fig
ure, and, taking a ten dollar bill from
his pocket, he gave 1t TO Mark to bind
the bargain. Mark without wasting
any time called for pen and paper and
wrote Out.a bill Of sale on the terms
proposed. It was executed, and Bow
man gave a sigh Of relief. He had
feared there would be slip. Then,
taking a pencil, he figured up how
much he was TO pay. When he had fin
lshcd he turned on the seller with n