in six months. He must have his answer immediately; was not anxious to
buy, but if Mr. Gwynne wanted to close up, he only had to say so. He was
not going to monkey with the thing.

"You have made me a much better offer than the one I received from Mr.
Martin, and I am inclined to accept it, but inasmuch as I have promised
to give him an answer to-day, I feel that it's due to him that I should
meet him with the bargain still unclosed."

"Why?" enquired Mr. Sleighter in surprise.

"Well, you see I asked him to hold the offer open until this afternoon.
I feel I ought to go to him with the matter still open."

"Want to screw him up, eh?" said Mr. Sleighter, his lips drawing close
together.

"No, sir." Mr. Gwynne's voice had a little ring in it. "I consider it
fairer to Mr. Martin."

"Don't see as how he has much claim on you," replied Mr. Sleighter. "But
that's your own business. Say, there he comes now. Look here, my offer
is open until six o'clock. After that it's a new deal. Take it or leave
it. I will be at your store."

"Very well," said Mr. Gwynne stiffly.

Mr. Sleighter was distinctly annoyed and disappointed. A few minutes'
longer pressure, he was convinced, would have practically closed a deal
which would have netted him a considerable profit. "Durn old fool," he
muttered to himself as he passed out of the room.

In the hallway Mrs. Gwynne's kindly welcome halted him. She greeted him
as she would a friend. Would he not sit down for a few moments. No,
he was busy. Mr. Sleighter was quite determined to get away from her
presence.

"The children were delighted with your description of your western
home," she said. "The free life, the beautiful hills, the mountains in
the distance--it must indeed be a lovely country."

Mr. Sleighter was taken off his guard. "Yes, ma'am, that's lovely
country all right. They'd like it fine out there, and healthy too. It
would make a man of that little kid of yours. He looks a little on the
weak side to me. A few months in the open and you wouldn't know him. The
girls too--"

"Come in here and sit down, won't you, Mr. Sleighter?" said Mrs. Gwynne.

Mr. Sleighter reluctantly passed into the room and sat down. He knew he
was taking a risk. However, his offer was already made and the deal he
believed would be closed in the store by six o'clock.

"I suppose the land is all taken up out there?" said Mrs. Gwynne.

"Oh, yes, mostly, unless away back. Folks are comin' in all