"She's worth more than that," he said. "But that's neither here nor there. I raised the animal, and it was sorely against my will that I parted with her six weeks ago. Now that I have the money to pay you I want her back."
"I think you are standing in your own light, Mr. Nelson," said the squire. "I have taken a fancy to the cow, and am willing to pay more for her than she is worth. I will say ten dollars."
"I'd rather have Whiteface than the money," he said.
"If she comes into my possession again," said Squire Hudson, "I shall not be willing to grant you the privilege of redeeming her. It won't be many months before another payment becomes due."
"I hope to be ready to meet it, squire," said the farmer, not appearing at all anxious.
"He seems very independent," thought the squire, watching, moodily, the cow driven away by her former owner. "He may sing another tune on interest day. I wonder how much the boy sent home."
Had he known that Mr. Nelson had in his pocket enough money to pay the whole of the next accruing interest, he would have felt more doubtful about recovering the cow which he now coveted more than ever.
"Well, Abner, I've lost her," said the squire, hurrying to his assistant; "but she'll be back here some day, mark my words!"
"I thought you bought her, squire," said Abner, in surprise.
"Well, not exactly. I took her for a debt; but Nelson had the right of redeeming her, and he has done it. His boy sent him the money."
"That Tom Nelson is a smart boy," said Abner, who, though in the squire's employ, was friendly to our hero.
"Well, so-so," remarked the squire, indifferently. "I helped him to go to California; but I am not sure whether it was a wise step. I let my feelings get the better of my judgment."
"Then it is the first time," was Abner's unspoken comment.
"It may turn out for the best," he said aloud.
"I doubt if I shall ever see my money again," said the squire; but he did not seem to take it to heart, judging from his manner and tone.
"Didn't you have security for the loan?" asked Abner.
"Well, ye-es," answered the squire, slowly; "but not very good. The farm was already mortgaged for its full value."
"The squire is getting benevolent," thought Abner, "or he wants me to think so; but I'm inclined to think he has some object under it all. What is it?"