what will you do?"

"Why, raise the money on the property."

"How will you do that?"

"Sell it, of course."

I asked no further questions, but left him and went away. Before
reaching home, to which place I was retiring in order to think over
the position in which I was placed, and determine what steps to
take, if any were left to me, I met the pleasant acquaintance I had
made at the town-meeting.

"You look grave, Mr. Jones," said he, as we paused, facing each
other. "What's the matter?"

I frankly told him my difficulty.

"So Laxton has got you in his clutches, has he?" was the simple,
yet, I perceived, meaning reply that he made.

"I am in his clutches, certainly," said I. "And will not get out of
them very easily, I apprehend."

"What will he do?"

"He will sell the property at auction."

"It won't bring his claim under the hammer."

"No, I suppose not, for that is really more than the property is
worth."

"Do you think so?"

"Certainly I do. I know the value of every lot of ground in the
township, and know that you have been taken in in your purchase."

"What do you suppose it will bring at a forced sale?"

"Few men will bid over twenty-five hundred dollars."

"You cannot be serious?"

"I assure you I am. He, however, will overbid all, up to four
thousand. He will, probably, have it knocked down to him at three
thousand, and thus come into the unencumbered possession of a piece
of property upon which he has received two thousand dollars."

"But three thousand dollars will not satisfy his claim against me."

"No. You will still owe him a thousand dollars."

"Will he prosecute his claim?"

"He?" And the man smiled. "Yes, to the last extremity, if there be
hope of getting any thing."

"Then I am certainly in a bad way."

"I'm afraid you are, unless you can find some one here who will
befriend you in the matter."

"There is no one here who will lend me four thousand dollars upon
that piece of property," said I.

"I don't know but one man who is likely to do it," was answered.

"Who is that?" I asked, eagerly.

"John Mason."

"John Mason! I'll never go to him."

"Why not?"

"I might as well remain where I am as get into his hands--a sharper
and a lawyer to boot. No, no. Better to bear the evils that we have,
than fly to others that we know not of."

"You may get assistance somewhere else, but I am doubtful," said the
man; and, bowing politely, passed on, and left me to my own