“As soon as he told me that I knew he was our meat; besides, I saw trade in his eye as big as an arc-light. To make a long tale short, he is coming up here tonight, and if your father is willing to accept the loan, he can get the money, giving only the land as security--provided we don't slip up. Here's the only thing I'm afraid of. When Wilson gets here he may get to making inquiries around and drop on to the report that your father is disgusted with his investment, and smell a mouse and pull off. What I want to do is to get at him the first thing after breakfast in the morning, so you'd better bring your father and mother in early. If we once get Wilson's twenty-five thousand into it, we can eventually sell out. The main thing is the loan. Don't you think so?” “I certainly do,” said Alan. “Of course, a good many things might interfere; we'd have to get a right of way and a charter before the road could be built, and I reckon they won't buy till they are sure of those things.” “No it may take a long time and a lot of patience,” said Miller. “But your father could afford to wait if he can get his money back by means of the loan. I tell you that's the main thing. If I had offered to sell Wilson the whole thing at twenty-five thousand he never would have come up here, but he is sure now that the property is just what he is looking for. Oh, we are not certain of him by a long jump! It all depends on whether he will insist on going over there or not. If he does, those moss-backs will bu'st the thing wide open. If he comes straight to my office in the morning the deal may be closed, but if he lies around the hotel talking, somebody will spoil our plans and Wilson will hang off to make his own terms later--if he makes any at all. It's ticklish, but we may win.” “It _is_ a rather ticklish situation,” admitted Alan, “but even if we do get the loan on the property, don't you think Wilson may delay matters and hope to scoop the property in for the debt?” “He might,” Miller smiled, “if he didn't want to move that railroad somewhere else, and, besides, your father can keep the money in suitable shape to pay off the note in any emergency and free himself.” “I don't know how to thank you, old man,” answered Alan. “If you had been personally interested in this you could not have done more.” Miller threw himself back in his chair and smiled significantly. “Do I look like a man with nothing in it?” he asked. “But you haven't anything in it,” retorted Alan, wonderingly. “That's all you know about it” Miller laughed.