He rolled a cigarette and struck a light and carefully got the tobacco to burning.
"You say you're going to let the ranch go back to Menocal," he stated, abruptly.

"You've made up your mind that you won't keep it, anyway.
All right.

Now I've a proposition to make you." Stevenson looked at him with curiosity.
"A proposition?
What is it ?" he asked.
"It's this: I've a farm of eighty acres in Nebraska that I'll trade you for it.

I could offer you less, but I won't; you have an equity here of value, and I'm not the kind of man to beat you down to nothing.

If we deal, you shall have something in return for your interest.