Well," he continued, suddenly lifting his eyes to the young man's flushed face, in some unconscious, sympathetic response to his earnest breathlessness, "although my boundary line extends half a mile into that field, my house and garden and corral ARE ACTUALLY UPON THAT TERRACE OR LEVEL." They certainly appeared to Clarence to be on the same line as the long field beyond.

"If," went on Peyton, "such a decision is made, these men will push on and claim the house and everything on the terrace." "But," said Clarence quickly, "you said their title was only valuable where they have got or can give POSSESSION.

You already have yours.

They can't take it from you except by force." "No," said Peyton grimly, "nor will they dare to do it as long as I live to fight them." "But," persisted Clarence, with the same singular hesitancy of manner, "why didn't you purchase possession of at least that part of the land which lies so dangerously near your own house ?" "Because it was held by squatters, who naturally preferred buying what might prove a legal title to their land from these impostors than to sell out their possession to ME at a fair price." "But couldn't you have bought from them both ?" continued Clarence.
"My dear Clarence, I am not a Croesus nor a fool.

Only a man who was both would attempt to treat with these rascals, who would now, of course, insist that THEIR WHOLE claim should be bought up at their own price, by the man who was most concerned in defeating them." He turned away a little impatiently.