登陆注册
4620400000041

第41章

A HEAVY CLOUD

Now, a rattlesnake is poisonous, but he gives fair warning; a swamp moccasin lies in wait for the unwary and strikes without sign or sound. Into Hiram Strong's troubled mind came the thought that Mr. Pepper was striking like his prototype of the swamps.

A snaky sort of a man was Mr. Pepper--sly, a hand-rubber as he talked, with a little, sickly grin playing about his thin, mean mouth. When he opened it Hiram almost expected to see a forked tongue run out.

At least, of one thing was the young farmer sure: Mr. Pepper was no more to be trusted than a serpent. Therefore, he did not take a word that the man said on trust.

He recovered from the shock which the statement of the real estate man had caused, and he uttered no expression of either surprise, or trouble. Mrs. Atterson he could see was vastly disturbed by the statement; but somebody had to keep a cool bead in this matter.

"Let's see your option," Hiram demanded, bruskly. "Why--if Mrs. Atterson wishes to see it---""You show it to Hi, you Pepper-man," snapped the old lady. "I wouldn't do a thing without his advice.""Oh, well, if you consider a boy's advice material---""I know Hi's honest," declared the old lady, tartly. "And that's what I'm sure you ain't! Besides," she added, sadly, "Hi's as much interested in this thing as I be. If the farm's got to be sold, it puts Hi out of a job.""Oh, very well," said the real estate man, and he drew a rather soiled, folded paper from his inner pocket.

He seemed to hesitate the fraction of a second about showing the paper. It increased Hi's suspicion--this hesitancy. If the man had a perfectly good option on the farm, why didn't he go about the matter boldly?

But when he got the paper in his own hands he could see nothing wrong with it. It seemed written in straight-forward language, the signatures were clear enough, and as he had seen and read Uncle Jeptha's will, he was quite sure that this was the old man's signature to the optionwhich, for the sum of twenty dollars in hand paid to him, he agreed to sell his farm, situated so-and-so, for sixteen hundred dollars, cash, same to be paid over within one year of date.

"Of course," said Hiram, slowly, handing back the paper--indeed, Pepper had kept the grip of his forefinger and thumb on it all the time--"Of course, Mrs. Atterson's lawyer must see this before she agrees to anything.""Why, Hiram!I ain't got no lawyer," exclaimed the old lady.

"Go to Mr. Strickland, who made Uncle Jeptha's will," Hiram said to her. Then he turned to Pepper:

"What's the name of the witness to that old man's signature?" "Abel Pollock.""Oh!Henry's father?"

"Yes. He's got a son named Henry." "And who's the Notary Public?""Caleb Schell. He keeps the store just at the crossroads as you go into town.""I remember the store," said Hiram, thoughtfully.

"But Hiram!" cried Mrs. Atterson, "I don't want to sell the farm." "We'll be sure this paper is all straight before you do sell, Mrs.

Atterson."

"Why, I just won't sell!" she exclaimed. "Uncle Jeptha never said nothing in his will about giving this option. And that lawyer says that in a couple of years the farm will be worth a good deal more than this Pepper offers.""Why, Mrs. Atterson!" exclaimed the real estate man, cheerfully, "as property is selling in this locality now, sixteen hundred dollars is a mighty good offer for your farm. You ask anybody. Why, Uncle Jeptha knew it was; otherwise he wouldn't have given me the option, for he didn't believe I'd come up with the price. He knew it was a high offer.""And if it's worth so much to you, why isn't it worth more to Mrs. Atterson to keep?" demanded Hiram, sharply.

"Ah! that's my secret--why I want it," said Pepper, nodding. "Leave that to m. If I get bit by buying it, I shall have to suffer for my lack ofwisdom."

"You ain't bought it yet--you Pepper," snapped Mrs. Atterson.

"But I'm going to buy it, ma'am," replied he, rather viciously, as he stood up, ready to depart. "I shall expect to hear from you no later than Monday.""I won't sell it!"

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 疯癫

    疯癫

    胡冰心的孪生妹妹杨子楠在某个深秋的夜晚,独自驾车在七夕街上时发生了车祸。醒来后,不仅失去了记忆,而且变得如惊弓之鸟般弱不禁风,在她调查车祸原因的过程中。胡冰心打听到了一件关于七夕街的骇人事件——常常有人在深夜遇见一位身穿红裙、怀抱白狗的女子。她总是冷不防地出现在树下,又悄无声息地消失不见,如鬼魅般来去无踪。失忆后,杨子楠的家里发生了一连串诡异的事情——原本关严实的窗户会在半夜莫名其妙地洞开;无人使用的电脑会自己启动,一朵艳丽的红玫瑰赫然跳跃到屏幕上;深夜的窗外似乎总有一双眼睛窥视着房内的一举一动……
  • 碎了时光,暖了情殇

    碎了时光,暖了情殇

    那年他们十六七,认做姐弟。或许都是天注定的,弟弟突然一去不复返,姐姐为此念叨十来年,逢人便说她有一个帅小弟。十年人事两不知,再见时,不是看到他被人追着说流氓,就是见他倒卖成人用品。人品变差了没关系,可他居然不记得她这个姐姐。为了让他早点恢复记忆,委曲求全和他同在一个屋檐下。生活上劝他多多珍惜未婚妻,工作上又为他卖命加班争业绩。到最后,他更是当起了甩手掌柜。让她又要忙着生活,又要忙着管理公司,还要应对被他伤了心的情人,他却一直杳无音讯。从送公司,送房子,送车子到送未婚夫,她都默默的接受。可到最后送丈夫,她却迟迟不肯踏出那一步。原来,有一种爱,亮如橘色,碎了时光,暖了情殇!--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 万里长城的故事

    万里长城的故事

    作为龙的传人,你想知道中国为什么被称为世界文明古国吗?拿起这本书,走进时空隧道,读读万里长城辉煌的故事,你就有答案了……
  • 脚尖上的中国

    脚尖上的中国

    这是一部关注老年人生活主题的作品,小说围绕夏美英、万国贞、钱念珠三家人展开。故事一波三折,常常出人意料之外又时时在意料之中,把都市生活百态拿捏得恰到好处,描写得淋漓尽致。小说将具备热点阅读元素的“广场舞”作为故事的核,将中国社会的特产、“中国大妈”的特权赋予了中国老年群体努力活出不一样的美丽心愿,折射出“中国梦”辐射下的百姓梦、幸福梦。作者刘秀英为北京作协会员,河北省作协会员。
  • 幼仪杂箴

    幼仪杂箴

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 泰拳(奥林匹克百科知识丛书)

    泰拳(奥林匹克百科知识丛书)

    泰拳是一种运用拳、肘、腿、膝进行实战对搏的功夫,注重功力纯至和技术精细,其中“铁肘、钢膝、千金腿”被誉为泰拳的“三大杀手锏”,在擂台上曾令许多的功夫高手俯首称臣。
  • 盖世魔头

    盖世魔头

    一次意外,杨云成为修仙界恶名昭彰的魔宗修士,为了存活下去,只能不要脸了……
  • 知行合一王阳明2:四句话读懂阳明心学

    知行合一王阳明2:四句话读懂阳明心学

    “无善无恶心之体,有善有恶意之动,知善知恶是良知,为善去恶是格物”,这四句话既是阳明心学的核心,也是最适合初学者的门径,本书由此入手,为普通人入门、理解和掌握阳明心学,第一次梳理出了清晰易懂的完整体系。心学绝非空泛的理论,王阳明最重“事上练”本书抓住心学要领,并以王阳明亲口所述的事例、譬喻乃至其本人的故事说理,娓娓道来地直抵心学思想根本。
  • 涅羽

    涅羽

    【介绍】一群羽国妖孽——鸟妖的感情故事。作小鸟也要考试读书,作小鸟还可以学习法术,住漂亮的树屋小别墅,恋爱又该选择哪个种族。羽族曾经迷题的揭露,小乌鸦成长奋斗的旅途,日子可以糖果般甜蜜,可有时也会咖啡样轻苦。
  • 勿斋先生文集

    勿斋先生文集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。