I intended to cut some timber an' haul it to the village this winter so I could pay a part o' the note an' git more time as I told ye, but the roads have been so bad I couldn't do any haulin'." My uncle went and took a drink at the water pail.

I saw by his face that he was unusually wrought up.
"My heavens an' earth!" he exclaimed as he sat down again.
"It's the brain colic," I said to myself as I looked at him.
Mr.Barnes seemed to have it also.
"Too much note," I whispered.
"I'm awful sorry, but I've done everything I could," said Mr.Barnes.
"Ain't there somebody that'll take another mortgage ?--it ought to be safe now," my uncle suggested.
"Money is so tight it can't be done.

The bank has got all the money an' Grimshaw owns the bank.

I've tried and tried, but I'll make you safe.
I'll give you a mortgage until I can turn 'round." So I saw how Rodney Barnes, like other settlers in Lickitysplit, had gone into bondage to the landlord.
"How much do you owe on this place ?" Barnes asked.
"Seven hundred an' fifty dollars," said my uncle.
"Is it due ?" "It's been due a year an' if I have to pay that note I'll be short my interest." "God o' Israel! I'm scairt," said Barnes.
Down crashed the stick of wood into the box.
"What about ?" Mr.Barnes tackled a nail that stuck out of the woodwork and tried to pull it between his thumb and finger while I watched the process with growing interest.
"It would be like him to put the screws on you now," he grunted, pulling at the nail.

"You've got between him an' his prey.