Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/31



was as good as his word, and by one o'clock he entered Mr. Jackson's store. The proprietor, a portly man, greeted him pleasantly.

"More huckleberries, Dave?"

"Not to-day, Mr. Jackson. I came to ask you for a little information."

"Oh! What is it?"

"I guess you know our farm pretty well, don't you?"

"Why, yes; I've known that place for a good number of years. When I was a boy I used to go fishing in the brook back of the woods up there."

"What would you think the farm would bring if put up for sale?"

"Hum! That's a serious question to answer off-hand. How many acres?"

"Eighty-six, and fifty cleared."

"How big is the house?"

"Four good rooms. Then we have a small barn, a cowshed, a poultry house, besides two cows, a horse, and all the tools."

"Are you trying to sell out?" Rh