He wants fifty thousand dollars." "Of course you won't pay so much ?" "I should hardly feel authorized to do so.

I may go as high as forty thousand dollars." Ben was dazzled.

If he could effect a sale at this price he would be doing a splendid stroke of business, and would effectually defeat the plans of Mr.Jackson, who, it appeared, had pretended that he was the owner of the farm, hoping to obtain it from Mrs.Hamilton at a valuation which would have been suitable before the discovery of oil, but now would be ludicrously disproportionate to its real value.
"Shall or shall I not, tell this gentleman the truth ?" he reflected.
He thought over the matter and decided to do so.

The discovery must be made sooner or later, and there would be no advantage in delay.
"I don't think Jackson will sell," he said.
"Why not ?" asked the stranger, in surprise.

"Do you know him ?" "I never saw him in my life." "Then how can you form any opinion on the subject ?" Ben smiled.
"The answer is easy enough," he said.