`` I 've kind of gone downhill , that 's a fact . The old farm has to go , Ben -- I 'm sorry for that -- I 'd have liked to have ended my days here , but it 's not to be . I do n't want to complain . The Lord does all things well . I have n't a doubt but that it all fits into His wise purposes -- not a doubt , Ben , although it may be kind of hard to see it . '' Ben was always skittish of `` pious talk . '' He veered around adroitly . `` I dunno as the Lord has had much to do with this , sir . Seems to me as if 't was the other one as was running it , with Joe Moore for deputy . The main thing , as I look at it , is to get a cinch on him . How much does the mortgage amount to , sir ? '' `` About three thousand dollars , interest and all . '' Old Stephen 's voice trembled . The future looked very dark to him in his old age . Ben put his hand inside his coat and brought out a brand-new , plump pocketbook . He opened it , laid it on his knee , and counted out a number of crisp notes . `` Here , sir , '' he said , pushing them along the table . `` I reckon that 'll keep you out of Joe Moore 's clutches . There 's three thousand there if I ai n't made a mistake . That 'll set you clear , wo n't it ? ''
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't Ben Lord Moore Stephen days dollars number sir table