human
Creditors?
gpt
You've hit it first time, Drakesford. Bondholder who's been bleeding me quite a few years now. Raked in what I made each harvest--left me not quite enough to live on--until I began to see that I'd have to work a lifetime to get clear of him. When I knocked a little off the debt one good year he piled up something else on me. Then I was short last payment, and he shut down on my farm.
human
Ever hear anything like that before, Watson?
gpt
I have, he answered;
human
How did the blamed insect first get hold of you?
gpt
I'd a notion of getting married, and meant to raise a record crop. Went along to the blood-sucker, who was quite willing to back me, and took out a mortgage. Pledged him all the place and stock for what he let me have.
human
Probably a third of its value,
gpt
About that, Winthrop agreed.
human
A big crop might have cleared me then, but we had frost that year, and he commenced to play me. Made me insure stock and homestead in his company--and I guess he stuck me over that. Then I had to buy implements and any stores he sold from him, at about twice the usual figure; and one way or another the debt kept piling up.
gpt
Couldn't you have gone short in your payments before it got too big, and let him sell the place? suggested Drakesford.
human
In that case, anything over and above what he advanced would have had to be refunded to you. Still, the man you dealt with would probably have provided for that difficulty.
gpt
A sure thing! He wouldn't shut down until it was a year when wheat was cheap and farms were bringing mighty little. Then he'd sell him up and buy the place in through a dummy, 'way down beneath its value. After that he'd rent it out until wheat went up and he'd get twice what he gave for it from some sucker.
human
When you got notice of foreclosure I suppose you cleared out and left him the place, he said.
gpt
How does that give him a hold on you?
human
I sold the team and stock first, replied Winthrop grimly.
gpt
He sent the police after me.
human
Naturally! But haven't you got some homestead exemption laws in this part of the country?
gpt
They don't apply to mortgaged property, Watson broke in. Then he looked up sharply.
human
But, I guess you've hit it. The debt secured by mortgage wasn't a big one, and the man piled up more on to it afterward. The law would exempt from seizure on that.
gpt
Well, he answered at length,
human
He paused, and clenched a big, brown hand.
gpt
If he's wise he'll be content with that, and quit; but you can't satisfy that man. He's got my farm; he's made my life bitter; brought three years of trouble on the girl I meant to marry; and now he's after me again. Seems to me I've laid down under it about long enough!