It is just as if your mamma went next door to borrow a cup of sugar,
and said:
"Now, Mrs. Jones, if I don't pay you back this sugar, and a little
more than you gave me, for being so kind as to lend it to me--if I
don't pay it back in a week, why you can keep my new Sunday hat." And
your mamma might give Mrs. Jones a Sunday hat as "security" for the
cup of sugar. Of course ladies do not do those things, but that is
what a mortgage is like.
"Yes." said Mr. Murphy to Mr. Bobbsey, "Mr. Hardee borrowed from me
the money to buy from you the lumber for his house. And he hasn't paid
me back the money, nor any interest on it. I think I'll go up and have
a talk with him. And, when I get through talking, I guess he'll let
you go through his wire fence."
"I hope he will," said Mr. Bobbsey, "for it would be too bad to have
our trip spoiled."
"I'll go right back with you," offered Mr. Murphy.
So it happened that Mr. Bobbsey, with his friend, reached the
houseboat, in Lemby Creek, shortly after dinner.
"Oh, back so soon?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey. "What are you going to do, Mr.
Murphy?"
"Have a talk with Mr. Hardee."
Mr. Bobbsey and Mr. Murphy walked down the bank of the creek to the
farm. They found Mr. Hardee mending a broken harness.
"Mr. Hardee," said Mr. Murphy, "I hear you have put a wire fence
across Lemby Creek, so my friend, Mr.
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