Chapter 32 Ben Sells The Farm

 The farmer stared at Ben panic-stricken. He had thought success within his grasp. He was to be a rich man--independent for life--as the result of the trick which he was playing upon Mrs. Hamilton. His disappointment was intense, and he looked the picture of discomfiture¹.

 

"I don't believe you," he faltered² after a pause.

 

Ben drew a letter from his inside pocket and held it up.

 

"Do you deny the writing?" he said.

 

"Give it to me!" said Jackson, with a sudden movement.

 

"No, thank you; I prefer to keep it. I shall make no use of it unless it is necessary. I called here to notify you that Mrs. Hamilton does not propose to sacrifice the farm. If it is sold at all it will be to someone who will pay its full value."

 

"You can't sell it," said Jackson sullenly³. "I have a lease."

 

"Produce it."

 

"At any rate, I shall stay till my year's out."

 

"That will depend upon the new owner. If he is willing, Mrs. Hamilton will not object."

 

"I think you've got him there, Ben," said Mr. Taylor, with a laugh. "Mr. Jackson, I think it won't be worth while to continue our conversation. You undertook to sell what was not yours. I prefer to deal with the real owner or her representative."

 

"That boy is an impostor!" muttered Jackson. "Why, he's only a school boy. What does he know about business?"

 

"I think he has proved a match for you. Good-morning, Mr. Jackson. Ben, let us be going."

 

"Now," said Taylor as they were walking toward the inn, "what do you say to my offer?"

 

"Please state it, Mr. Taylor."

 

"I offer forty thousand dollars for the farm. It may be worth considerably⁴ more than that; but, on the other hand, the wells may soon run dry. I have to take the chances."

 

"That seems a fair offer, Mr. Taylor," said Ben frankly⁵. "If I were the owner I would accept it; but I am acting⁶ for another who may not think as I do."

 

"Will you consult her and let me know?"

 

"I will write at once."

 

"Why not telegraph? The delay would be too great if you trust to the mail."

 

"I will do as you suggest," answered Ben, "if there is an opportunity to telegraph from this place."

 

"There is an office at the depot⁷."

 

"Then I will take that on my way back to the hotel."

 

At one corner of the depot Ben found a telegraph operator. After a little consideration, he dashed off the following telegram:

 

"No. ---- Madison Avenue, New York.

 

"To Mrs. Hamilton:

 

"Oil has been discovered on your farm. I am offered forty thousand dollars for it by a responsible party. What shall I do?

 

"Ben Barclay."

 

"Send answer to the hotel," said Ben, to the operator.

 

Four hours later a messenger brought to Ben the following dispatch:

 

"Your news is most surprising. Sell at the figure named if you think it best. You have full powers.

 

"Helen Hamilton."

 

Mr. Taylor watched Ben's face eagerly as he read the telegram, for he knew that it must relate to his offer.

 

"What does your principal say?" he inquired.

 

"You can read the telegram, Mr. Taylor."

 

Taylor did so.

 

"So you have full powers?" he said. "Mrs. Hamilton must feel great confidence in you."

 

There was a proud flush on Ben's cheek as he replied:

 

"I have reason to think that she does. I hope it is not misplaced."

 

"I hope you won't drive a hard bargain with me, Ben."

 

"I don't mean to bargain at all. You have made a fair offer, and I will accept it."

 

Taylor looked pleased.

 

"Some boys in your position," he said, "would have stipulated⁸ for a present."

 

"I shall do nothing of the kind," said Ben promptly⁹. "I should not think it honest."

 

"Your honesty, my boy, is of the old-fashioned kind. It is not the kind now in vogue¹⁰. I like you the better for it, and if you were not in Mrs. Hamilton's employ I would try to secure your services myself."

 

"Thank you, Mr. Taylor. The time may come when shall remind you of your promise."

 

"You will find I have not forgotten it. And now to business. We will go to a lawyer and have the necessary papers drawn¹¹ up, which you shall sign in behalf of your principal."

 

The business was speedily arranged, and by supper-time Ben found that he had nothing further to detain him in Centerville. He felt that he had done a smart stroke of business. Mrs. Hamilton had been surprised at receiving an offer of five thousand dollars for the farm, yet he had sold it for forty thousand!

 

As they were returning from the lawyer's office they met farmer Jackson just returning from the post office.

 

"By the way, Mr. Jackson," said Taylor, "you will perhaps be interested to learn that your farm has been sold."

 

The farmer paused, and looked troubled.

 

"Are you going to turn me out of the house?" he asked.

 

"Not if you wish to live in it. I shall employ workmen at once to sink wells, and develop the property. They will need to board somewhere. Are you willing to board them?"

 

"Yes; I shall be glad to," answered Jackson. "I am a poor man, and it's hard work living by farming."

 

"Very well; we can no doubt make an arrangement. I am obliged to go to New York to complete arrangements for the transfer of the property, but I shall come back as soon as possible and commence operations."

 

"I wouldn't mind workin' for myself," said Jackson.

 

"Then you are the first man I engage."

 

The old farmer brightened up. He was to make money out of the new discoveries after all, though not in the way he had comtemplated.

 

"When are you going back to New York, Ben?" asked Taylor.

 

"There is nothing to detain me here any longer."

 

"We can go back together, then."

 

"I shall be glad to travel in your company, sir."

 

"Do you expect to remain in Mrs. Hamilton's employ?"

 

"I don't know," answered Ben.

 

"What were you doing?"

 

"Keeping accounts and acting as her private secretary."

 

"Do you like it?"

 

"Yes; I find it very pleasant, or would be but for one thing."

 

"What is that?"

 

"She has relatives living in the house who do not like me."

 

"Jealous, eh?"

 

"Perhaps so."

 

"Let me say frankly, that you are fitted for something higher. I am a good judge of men--"

 

Ben smiled.

 

"Boys, then; and I consider you a boy of excellent business capacity. After I have got my oil wells under way, I should like to engage you as superintendent¹²."

 

"I am flattered by your good opinion, Mr. Taylor, but it is a business I know nothing of."

 

"You would make it your business to learn it, or I mistake you."

 

"You are right there, sir."

 

"However, there will be plenty of time to arrange about this matter. It would probably be two months before I felt justified¹³ in leaving another in charge."

 

The two started for New York. About fifty miles before reaching the city, as Ben was reading a magazine he had purchased from the train-boy, he felt a touch upon his shoulder.

 

Looking up, he recognized, to his amazement¹⁴, the tramp with whom he had had an adventure some weeks before in Pentonville.

 

"I see you know me," said the tramp, with a smile. 

1 discomfiture   

n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑

参考例句：

• I laughed my head off when I heard of his discomfiture. 听到别人说起他的狼狈相，我放声大笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Without experiencing discomfiture and setbacks,one can never find truth. 不经过失败和挫折，便找不到真理。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 faltered   

（嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃

参考例句：

• He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
• "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着：“这孩子脑袋真长。”

3 sullenly   

不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地

参考例句：

• 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢？”汤姆绷着脸说。
• Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完，想不出能找点什么事做，只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。

4 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

5 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

6 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

7 depot   

n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站

参考例句：

• The depot is only a few blocks from here.公共汽车站离这儿只有几个街区。
• They leased the building as a depot.他们租用这栋大楼作仓库。

8 stipulated   

vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的

参考例句：

• A delivery date is stipulated in the contract. 合同中规定了交货日期。
• Yes, I think that's what we stipulated. 对呀，我想那是我们所订定的。 来自辞典例句

9 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

10 Vogue   

n.时髦，时尚；adj.流行的

参考例句：

• Flowery carpets became the vogue.花卉地毯变成了时髦货。
• Short hair came back into vogue about ten years ago.大约十年前短发又开始流行起来了。

11 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

12 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

13 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

14 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。