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om Colorado, another letter, as unexpected as Mr. Sloan's, reached Mrs. Fenton. The substance of it was comprised in the closing paragraph "Send your son round to my house this evening I am prepared to make you a better offer for the Colorado laud. It's of little value, but some day may be worth more than at present. As you are straitened in means I can better afford to wait than you, and I shall feel satisfaction in relieving your necessities." Fred read this letter attentively. "I hate a hypocrite," he said. "Mr. Ferguson pretends that he wants to help us, while he is scheming to cheat us out of a large sum, relying upon our ignorance of the increased value of the land." "Shall I write and tell him that we have sold the land?" asked Mrs. Fenton. "No, I will call and see him this evening, as he requests." "But it will do no good." "I want to find out how much he is willing to give. I shan't let him know that the land is sold till he has made an offer." "Don't say anything to provoke Cousin Ferguson, Fred." "Don't worry, mother. I will be perfectly respectful." About half-past seven Fred rang the bell at the door of the house on East Thirty-Ninth Street. Evidently he was expected, for, on his inquiring for Mr. Ferguson, he was shown at once into the presence of his rich relation. "Good evening, Frederick," said Mr. Ferguson, With unusual graciousness. "How is your mother?" "Very well, thank you, sir." "I hope you are getting along comfortably." "Yes, sir; we have no right to complain." "That is well," said Mr. Ferguson condescendingly. "I presume the boy is making five dollars a week or some such matter," he soliloquized. "That is very well for a boy like him." "I made you an offer for your father's land in Colorado a few months ago," he went on carelessly. "Yes, sir." "You thought my offer too small." "Yes, sir. Twenty-five dollars would be of very little value to us." "There I disagree with you. Twenty-five dollars to a family situated as yours is, is no trifle." A faint smile flickered over Fred's face. He wondered what Mr. Ferguson would say if he knew precisely how they were situated. "Still," resumed the merchant, "you did right to refuse. I am inclined to think the land is a little more valuable than I supposed." Fred was rather surprised. Was Cousin Ferguson going to act a liberal part, and offer anything like a fair price for the land? He waited curiously to hea
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