o."

"Good! Then we can get down to brass tacks and save time. I want a piece
of that land."

I looked at him.

"You want--?" I repeated, slowly.

"I want a strip of your land. Want to buy it, of course. I don't expect
you to give it to me. What's it worth, by the acre, say?"

I did not answer. All at once I was beginning to see a light. Captain
Jed Dean's mysterious conversation at the post-office was beginning to
lose some of its mystery.

"Well?" asked Colton, impatiently. Then, without waiting longer, he
added:

"By the way, before you name a figure, answer me one more question. That
road--or lane, or whatever it is--that is yours, too? Doesn't belong to
the town?"

The light was growing more brilliant. I could see breakers ahead.

"No," I replied, slowly. "It is a private way. It belongs to me."

"Good! Well, what's that land of yours worth by the acre?"

I shook my head. "I scarcely know," I said. "I've never figured it that
way."

"I don't care how you figure it. Here, let's get down to a business
proposition. I want to buy a strip of that land from the Lower
Road--that's what you call the one above here, isn't it?--to the beach.
The strip I want is about three hundred feet wide, for a guess. It
extends from my fence to the other side of that grove by the bluff. What
will you sell it for?"

The breakers were close aboard. However, I dodged them momentarily.

"Why do you want to buy?" I asked.

"For reasons."

"I should think you had land enough already."

"I thought I had, but it seems I haven't. Well, what's your price for
that strip?"

"Mr. Colton, I--I'm afraid--"

"Never mind that. I suppose you're afraid you'll make the price too low.
Now, see here, I'm a busy man. I haven't time to do any bargaining.
Name your price and, if it's anywhere within reason, we won't haggle.
I expect to pay more than anyone else would. That's part of my fine
for being a city man and not a native. Gad! the privilege is worth the
money. I'll pay the fine. What's the price?"

"But why do you want to buy?"

"For reasons of my own, I tell you. They haven't anything to do with
your selling."

"I'm not so sure."

"What do you mean by that?"

"That strip takes in the Shore Lane, Mr. Colton."

"I know it."

"And, if you buy, I presume the Lane will be closed."

He looked at me, surprised, and, I thought, a little annoyed.

"Well?" he said; "suppose it is?"

"But it will be, won't it?"

"You bet y