R.R.
In the midst of the profound silence that followed, Osterman was heard to exclaim grimly: "THAT'S a pretty good one.

Tell us another." But for a long moment this was the only remark.
The silence widened, broken only by the sound of torn paper as Annixter, Osterman, old Broderson, Garnett, Keast, Gethings, Chattern, and Dabney opened and read their letters.

They were all to the same effect, almost word for word like the Governor's.

Only the figures and the proper names varied.

In some cases the price per acre was twenty-two dollars.