"Enough of this folly!" he said sternly. I am not in the humor for
jokes."

"Squire Davenport, I am not joking. I have here money enough to pay
the mortgage," and Ben drew from his pocket a thick roll of bills.

"Where did you get that money?" asked Squire Davenport, in evident
discomfiture.

"I don't think it necessary to answer that question; but there is
another matter I wish to speak to you about. When will you be ready
to pay the sum you owe my father's estate?"

Squire Davenport started violently.

"What do you mean?" he demanded hoarsely.

Harvey Dinsmore entered the room from the kitchen at that point.

"I will answer that question," he said. "Ben refers to a note for a
thousand dollars signed by you, which was found on his father's person
at the time of his death."

"No such note is in existence," said the squire triumphantly. He
remembered that he had burned it.

"You are mistaken. That note you burned was only a copy! I have the
original with me."

"You treacherous rascal!" exclaimed the squire, in great excitement.

"When I have dealings with a knave I am not very scrupulous," said
Dinsmore coolly.

"I won't pay the note you have trumped up. This is a conspiracy."

"Then," said Ben, "the note will be placed in the hands of a lawyer."

"This is a conspiracy to prevent my foreclosing the mortgage. But it
won't work," said the squire angrily.

"There you are mistaken. I will pay the mortgage now in the presence
of Mr. Dinsmore, and let the other matter be settled hereafter.
Please prepare the necessary papers."

Suddenly the squire did as requested. The money was paid over, and
Ben, turning to his mother, said:

"Mother, the house is ours once more without incumbrance."

"Thank God!" ejaculated the widow.

"Mr. Dinsmore," said Squire Davenport, when the business was
concluded, "may I have a private word with you? Please accompany me
to my house."

"As you please, sir."

When they emerged into the street Squire Davenport said:

"Of course this is all a humbug. You can't have the original with
you?"

"But I have, sir. You should have looked more closely at the one you
burned."

"Can't we compromise this matter?" asked the squire, in an insinuating
tone.

"No sir," said Dinsmore with emphasis. "I have got through with
rascality. You can't tempt me. If I were as hard up as when I called
upon you before, I might not be able to resist you; but I am worth
over ten