The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1909-06-30

peg your PARDON, sir, out ho'
. many acres have you here?"
The woodchopper went on with hi
work utterly oblivious of Rosina'
presence. She raised her voice: g
say"
A dirty-faced little boy appeare.
upon the back porch to announce
"Grandpop's deaf. What's va want?
rs your father at homer"
"Yeh."
I'D like to speak to him.
Hes Shawn"
I'll wait, if he won't be too long"
Better not. He don't like no tres
passin'."
Rosina tried to squelch him with g
lowered countenance. He stood mo
ment in some hesitation, then, making
a very wry face, he turned upon his
bare heels and went within, slamming
the door after him. A moment later a
man appeared, wiping the lather from
half his face. He nodded toward
Rosjna.
How many acres have you here?'
she asked.
"Huh?" The towel ceased circulat-
ing over his cheek while he waited for
Rosina to repeat her question.
How large is this FARM"
Ten acres, more or less; probly
less.'
| What is it worth?"
Il dunno. Why, are you assessing?"
Il want to buy it,
ooh. Is it for sale, you mean? Well,
I'm not sellin' it to-day, miss. Any
thing more l can do for you?" He
turned half around toward the kitchen
door. Several faces-most of them
were large-eyed and dirty-had ap-
peared from time to time at first one
and then another of every visible win
dow.
You'd surely sell if you got good
fgure?"
Nope"
"Say-seventy-five an acre. That's
$3.50. You could do a whole lot with
that much money"
yep; spect could"
"The house is probably too large
for your needs?"
"'Tis, bit"
And at-say q hundred dollars an
acre"
He wiped his hands slowly, while
Rosina argued that the pig which was
approaching her was perfectly harm
less, although she experienced a slight
chill as an accompaniment to it's
grunts.
I'D be perfectly willing to give you
a hundred and fifty she said, half
desperately.
'All my family's been born under
this roof" the man began, meditative-
ly. "The old place is heavily mort
gagged, too. Then the children's at
tached to it"
Il see. You want to hold it for pure.
ly sentimental reasons"
Mrs. Doughty came slowly around
the house to Rosina's side. She said:
Perhaps the gentleman would take
$4,000 in cash for it,"
ITO tell the truth, it amt worth that
much, ma'am, but"
We'll offer three thousand" from
Mrs. Doughty.
Mother, do let me manage this"
Very we'll, since you seem to know
so much about it,"
"Now, as my mother says, thirty-five
hun"
But didn't. 1 said three thou
sand"
"Never mind, ma Well offer thirty
five hundred-does that pig bite, Mr.
-eh? Why don't you keep it penned |
up? Well offer four thousand; but be |
quick, please. That's surely enough |
to overcome your sentiment in the |
matter, Mr. eh, what's your name?"
"Dorfing, miss" the other replied, as |
he SHE'D stick of wood and struck an
integrated pork chop. "And I'd like to |
oblige you by moving out, but moth !
er's sick abed and it might be fatal. |
There's Jergson's mile beyond. Ten |
acres of good ground, and he'll sell |
cheap. You could farm it In corn or
potatoes, or it might make good hen
hatchery"
"But I've taken fancy to this par.
ticular-"
II understand, miss"
"Oh, pshaw! Rosina, what's the use
haggling with a man like this? Offer
him five thousand and be done with
it. That's evidently what he's after"
mo. ma'am. 1t isn't that, but you
see"
yes, do see. You want to take the
usual advantage of two women in a
business DEAL That's just like a man!
Come, Rosina. I'd be afraid to trust
him any further"
Don't be hasty, mother. Perhaps
Mr.. Dorting will consider six thousand.
That's our last bid"
Don't be a fool, Rosna. The place
isn't worth $500. It's dirty and un-
kempt and full of gulles."
Mother, beg of YOU"
And l beg of you
ITS to be my place"
But the short, fat form of father
Doughty appeared around the corner