r. Gwynne came into the room. "Oh, I am glad you are not
gone, Mr. Sleighter. I have just told Mr. Martin that I cannot accept
his offer."

"Cannot accept, Michael!" said Mrs. Gwynne, dismay in her voice and in
her eyes.

"I believe you said your offer was good until six, Mr. Sleighter?"

"Oh, I say, Gwynne, let's get out, let's get over to the store. It's
kind of hot here, and I've got to go. Come on over and we'll clean up."
Without a farewell word to either of them Mr. Sleighter passed rapidly
from the room.

"I do hope there's nothing wrong, Michael," said his wife. "I fear I
have made a mistake. I spoke to Mr. Sleighter about the possibility of
getting a small farm in the West. You were so eager about it, Michael
dear, and I spoke to Mr. Sleighter about it. I hope there is nothing
wrong."

"Don't worry, mother. I have his offer for five thousand dollars. Of
course he is rather peculiar, I confess, but I believe--" The door
opened abruptly upon them, admitting Mr. Sleighter.

"See here, Mr. Gwynne, I can't do no business with you."

"Sir, you made me an offer for my farm," said Mr. Gwynne indignantly,
"and I have just refused an offer from Mr. Martin on account of yours."

"Oh, we'll cut that all out," said Mr. Sleighter, whose voice and manner
indicated strong excitement. "Now don't talk. Listen to me, my son. You
ain't got any right to be playing around with business men anyhow. Now I
am going to do a little business for you, if you will allow me, ma'am.
I take it you want to get away from here." Mr. Gwynne nodded, gazing
at him in astonishment. "You want to go West." Again Mr. Gwynne nodded.
"Well, there's only one spot in the West--Alberta. You want a farm."

"Yes," said Mr. Gwynne.

"Yes, certainly," said Mrs. Gwynne.

"There's just one farm that will suit you, an' that's Lakeside Farm,
Wolf Willow, Alberta, owned by H. P. Sleighter, Esq., who's going to
stump you to a trade. Five hundred acres, one hundred broke an' a timber
lot; a granary; stables and corral, no good; house, fair to middlin'.
Two hundred an' fifty acres worth ten dollars at least, best out of
doors; cattle run, two hundred acres worth five; swamp and sleugh, fifty
acres, only good to look at but mighty pretty in the mornin' at sun-up.
Not much money in scenery though. Building worth between two and three
thousand. Your plant here is worth about six thousand. I know I offered
you five thousand, but I was buyin' then and now I am b