[The Rise of Roscoe Paine by Joseph C. Lincoln]@TWC D-Link bookThe Rise of Roscoe Paine CHAPTER IV 33/44
You wouldn't make me a liar, would you? I'll give you five hundred for that bunch of sand.
You couldn't get more for it if you sold it by the pound, like tea.
Say yes, and close the deal." I shook my head. "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.
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