o do, you and your sister, is to
sign this paper, and we'll count the money right into your hand.
Could anything be fairer?"

"It's a big offer, too," said Blosser. "A run-down place like this
isn't attractive, and you're likely to go years before you get
another bid. Our client wants to get his daughter out into this air,
and he has money to spend fixing up. I tell you what we'll do--we'll
pay this year's taxes--include them in the sale price. Why, ladies,
you'll have a thousand dollars in cash!"

Betty could picture Miss Hope's eyes at the thought of a thousand
dollars.

"Well, Sister, perhaps we had better take it," suggested Miss Charity
timidly. "We can do sewing or something like that, and that money
will put Bob through school."

"Come on, here's where we put a spoke in the wheel," whispered Mr.
Gordon, beckoning Betty to follow him and striding down the hall.

"Why, Betty!" Miss Hope rose hastily and kissed her. "Sister and I
had begun to worry about you."

"This is my uncle, Mr. Gordon, Miss Hope," said Betty. "I found him
in Flame City. Has Bob come back?"

Miss Hope, much flustered by the presence of another stranger, said
that Bob had not returned, and presented Mr. Gordon to her sister.

"These gentlemen, Mr. Snead and Mr. Elmer,"--she consulted the cards
in her hand--"have called to see us about selling our farm."

Mr. Gordon nodded curtly to the pair whose faces were as black as a
thunder-cloud at the interruption.

"I'm sure Mr. Gordon will excuse us if we go on with the business,"
said Blosser smoothly. "You have a dining-room, perhaps, or some
other room where we could finish this matter quietly?"

Miss Hope glanced about her helplessly. Betty noticed that there was
pen and ink and a package of bills of large denomination on the
table. Evidently they had reached the farm just in time.

"Why, it happens that I'm interested in a way in your farm, if it is
for sale," announced Mr. Gordon leisurely.

He selected a comfortable chair, and leaned back in it with the air
of a man who is not to be hurried. A look of relief came into Miss
Hope's face, and her nervous tension perceptibly relaxed.

"This farm _is_ sold," declared Blosser truculently. "My partner and
I have bought it for a client of ours."

"Any signatures passed?" said Mr. Gordon lazily.

"Miss Hope will sign right here," said Blosser, hastily unfolding a
sheet of foolscap. "She was about to do so when you came in."

Miss Hop