“I understand your position, Mr. Colton,” I said, “but I can't say yes. Not now, at any rate.” “Why not? Isn't five hundred enough?” “It's a good offer.” “Then why not accept it?” “Because, if I were certain that I wanted to sell, I could not accept any offer just now.” “Why not? See here! are you afraid the town will be sore because the road is closed?” “It would be a great inconvenience to them.” “It's a greater one to me as it is. Can you afford to be a philanthropist? Are you one of those public-spirited citizens we read about?” He was sneering now, and my anger, which had lessened somewhat when he spoke of his wife's ill health, was rising again. “Are you?” he repeated. “I don't know as to that. But, as I said a while ago, Mr. Colton, I couldn't sell that land to you now.” “Why not?” “Because, if there were no other reason, I promised not to sell it without telling another person first.” He threw down his cigar and stood up. I rose also. “I see,” he said, with sarcasm. “I knew there was something beside public spirit. You think, by hanging off and playing me against this other sucker, you can get a higher price. Well, if that's the game, I'll keep him busy.” He took out his watch, glanced at it, and thrust it back into his pocket. “I've wasted time enough over this fool thing,” he declared. “Now that I know what the game is we'll talk to the point. It's highway robbery, but I might have expected to be robbed. I'll give you six hundred for that land.” I did not answer. I was holding my temper by main strength and I could not trust myself to speak. “Well?” he sneered. “That shakes your public spirit some, hey? What do you say?” “No,” I answered, and started for the door. “What!” he could hardly believe his ears. “By the Lord Harry! the fellow is crazy. Six hundred and fifty then, you infernal robber.” “No.” “NO! Say, what in thunder do you mean?” “I mean that you may go to the devil,” I retorted, and reached for the door knob. But before my fingers touched it there was the sound of laughter and voices in the hall. The knob was turned from without. I stepped back and to one side involuntarily, as the door opened and into the library came, not the butler, but a young lady, a girl in an automobile coat and bonnet. And, following her, a young man. “Father,” said the young lady, “Johnson says you've bought that horrid road. I'm so glad! When did you do it?” “Congratulations, Mr. Colton,” said the young man. “We just passed a cart full of something--seaweed, I believe it was--as we came along with the car. Oscar had to slow down to squeeze by, and we certainly were swept by ocean breezes. By Jove! I can smell them yet. I--” The young lady interrupted him. “Hush, Victor,” she said. “I beg your pardon, Father. I thought you were alone. Victor, we're intruding.”