Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/16

4 "I suppose that is true."

"If the place is sold what will you and old Potts do?" went on Ben, with added interest.

"I don't know, and that is what is bothering me. If he was a younger man, and well, we might hire some other farm, but as it is I can't see any way to turn."

"You might get a place on some other farm, Dave. I know you can do a regular man's work."

"Yes, but that wouldn't help Mr. Potts, and I feel that I ought to do all I can for him. He did what he could for me."

"You'll have a job of it, supporting yourself and a sick man, too. Besides, if he gets much worse he'll have to have somebody to take care of him, and you can't do that and work, too."

"I'll have to do it—or do the best I can," and Dave heaved another sigh, for the prospect ahead was certainly a dark one.

"How soon do you expect to hear from Aaron Poole?"

"The interest on the mortgage is due to-morrow, and Mr. Poole says he won't wait for his money."

"He's a hard-hearted wretch, if ever there was one!" burst out Ben, indignantly. "Do you remember the widow Fram? He put her out of her cottage in the dead of winter just because she got behind in her rent. Father said it was the meanest