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DAD'S "FORTUNE"
155

"Yairs—if we had."

Another silence.

"Well, I mean to have it, and that before very long."

Dave raised his head, and looked towards Dad.

ft There 's four of you old enough now to take up land, and where could you get better country than that out there for cattle? "Why" (turning on his side and facing Dave) "with a thousand acres of that stocked with cattle and this kept under cultivation we'd make money—we'd be rich in a very few years."

Dave raised himself on his elbow.

"Yairs—with cattle" he said.

"Just so" (Dad sat up with enthusiasm), "but to get the land is the first thing, and that's easy enough only" (lowering his voice) "it'll have to be done quietly and without letting everyone 'round know, we're going in for it." ("Oh! yairs,