'No matter how it did eventuate. P'raps he cleared off, handsome, with a
heap of dollars; p'raps he wasn't worth a cent. P'raps he was a loafin'
rowdy; p'raps a ring-tailed roarer. Now!'
'All your doing, Mark!' said Martin.
'P'raps,' pursued the agent, 'them ain't plants of Eden's raising. No!
P'raps that desk and stool ain't made from Eden lumber. No! P'raps no
end of squatters ain't gone out there. No! P'raps there ain't no such
location in the territoary of the Great U-nited States. Oh, no!'
'I hope you're satisfied with the success of your joke, Mark,' said
Martin.
But here, at a most opportune and happy time, the General interposed,
and called out to Scadder from the doorway to give his friends the
particulars of that little lot of fifty acres with the house upon it;
which, having belonged to the company formerly, had lately lapsed again
into their hands.
'You air a deal too open-handed, Gen'ral,' was the answer. 'It is a lot
as should be rose in price. It is.'
He grumblingly opened his books notwithstanding, and always keeping his
bright side towards Mark, no matter at what amount of inconvenience
to himself, displayed a certain leaf for their perusal.
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