“It would be the position of any sensible man, wouldn't it? I don't blame you. Now, what I wanted to say was this.” He bent forward and lowered his voice to a whisper. “Why don't you let me handle this thing for you? I can do it better'n you. I see Cap'n Jed every night, you might say. And I see consider'ble of Mr. Colton. He knows I'm postmaster in this town and sort of prominent. All the smart folks ain't in the Board of Selectmen. I'll keep you posted; see? You just set back and pretend you don't want to sell at all. Colton, he'll bid and Jed and his gang'll bid. I'll tell each what the other bids, and we'll keep her jumpin'. When we get to the last jump, we'll sell--and not afore. Of course Mr. Colton 'll get it, in the end.” “Oh, he will! What makes you think so?” “What makes me think so? Don't be foolish. Ain't he a millionaire? How can Denboro stand up against a millionaire? I tell you, Ros, it's money counts in this world, and it pays to stand in with them that's got it. I'm goin' to stand in with Mr. Colton. But I'll pretend to stand in with Dean just as much. I can help a whole lot. Why, I shouldn't wonder if, between us, we could get--er--er--I don't know how much, for that land. What do you say?” I smiled. “It's very kind of you, Sim, to be willing to go to so much trouble on my account,” I observed. “I didn't know there was such disinterested kindness in Denboro.” Sim seemed a bit put out. “Why,” he stammered, “I--I--of course I presumed likely you'd be willin' to pay me a little commission--or--or--somethin'. I thought I might be a sort of--er--agent for you. I've handled consider'ble real estate in my time--and--you see what I mean, don't you?” “Yes,” I said, drily; “I see. Well, Sim, if I decide to engage an agent I'll let you know. Good morning.” “But, hold on, Ros! I--” I did not “hold on.” I walked across the road and entered the bank. Alvin Baker met me in the vestibule. He seized my hand and shook it violently. “I declare,” he exclaimed, “it does me good to shake hands with a feller that's got the grit you have. It does so! We're all proud of you.” “Much obliged, Alvin, I'm sure. But why?” He winked and nudged me with his elbow. “You know why, all right,” he whispered. “Wouldn't sell him the land, would you? Tell me: Did he make you a real bid for it? Lute as much as said he did.” For a person who had told nothing, Lute seemed to have “as much as said” a good many things. I shook my head. “So you think I shouldn't sell the land?” I asked. “Course you shouldn't--not to him. Ain't there such things as public spirit and independence? But I'll tell you somethin' more, Ros,” mysteriously. “You may have a chance to sell it somewhere else.” “Indeed?” “Yes, sir-ee! indeed! There's other public-spirited folks in Denboro as well as you. I know who they be and I stand in with 'em pretty close, too. I'm goin' to help you all I can.” “That's very kind of you, Alvin.”