The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-08-21
A YANKEE TRAP.


fore when he got involved in a law
suit with his next door neighbor and
lost pretty much everything he had
he gathered up the fragments and
came to America with a view of
continuing the family traditional
life. He was impractical and vision
airy, fancying that in this land Of
large production he would make a
fortune and go back to England to
live under his beloved British flag.
He had daughter, Hilma, twenty
years old, whom he wished to remain
single until this happy return, when
he hoped his altered fortunes might
enable him to marry her to a young
er 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 propos-
ed 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
situation he would have forbidden
Mark the house. AS II was, he took
quite fancy to the young man and
made him welcome whenever he
came to his farm. 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 were his favor
ties. and, since in Mark he found a
worthy opponent, he was always
ready for 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 stone meeting house. One day
Evans told the old man that he was
thinking Of selling his farm. 1t was
a splendid piece of property, and
Bowman would have been delighted
10 get it II he could have raised the
money to buy II. Nevertheless he
asked Mark what would be his price
for II. Mark replied that he had not
made up his mind to sell It, but IL
he could get $4,000 for 1t he might
let 1t go. Since that 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 cupidity was excited. IL
troubled him that he had no money
with which 10 buy such a fine prop
erty, and he confessed this to its
owner. Mark told him that he
would sell the property to him for
one-half Of what he would sell il 10
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 play
ing checkers Mark said:
MIR. Bowman, I've made I'D my
mind TO 80 west and shall sell my
farm. Now since you want II / wish
you TO have It, Make me an OFFER.
II couldn't raise $780, said the
old man.
They finished the game, Mark
beating because his opponent was
thinking OF the coveted property.
Then Mark leaned back in his chair
and said:
I'm tell you what IL do. Mr..
Bowman, with you--mind, with you,
not with any one else. III sell you
my farm on these terms. Let me
sce. The farm is $50 acres. will
sell 1t to you with everything on II
on the following terms: For the first
ten acres you are to pay me at the
rate. of | cent an acre, the second
ten acres at the rate of 2 cents an
acre, the third ten acres at the rate
OF cents, the fourth 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 rea-
son why Mark wished to sell SO
cheap. Surely he had been over the
property and had found everything
IN good condition He ran up the
amount in his head till he had reach
ed the eighth lot of ten acres, which
he found to cost only $3.50.
Are you going TO give me the
farm?" he asked.
mo; | propose to sell 1t to you"
Bowman went on figuring.
IL won't leave the offer open"
said Mark
Done said Bowman, ceasing TO
figure, 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 bin of sale on
the terms proposed It was execut-
ed, and Bowman gave sigh of re-
lief He had feared there would be
a slip. Then, taking a pencil, he
figured up how much he was TO pay.
Mflar ha haa apF,bo,1