“How do you know this isn’t your grove?” asked the man with a smile, indicating the swamp land.
“Because the magazine advertisement that I answered said all the groves the company sold were on high ground. I followed the directions in reaching this place and this is the only grove on high ground around here. So it must be mine.”
“That’s your way of looking at it,” replied the man. “But it doesn’t happen to be the right one. My name is Carter. If you make some inquiries in the village you will find that I have owned this grove for the last twenty years, and that my father owned it before me.”
“I don’t believe you!” snapped Noddy. “It’s a plot to cheat me out of my money.”
“Look here!” exclaimed Mr. Carter. “If I didn’t think you were so young and foolish that you didn’t know any better I’d make you apologize for that. As it is I’m not going to take any notice of you. Are these young friends of yours? If they are I’d advise them to take you away before you get into trouble with that temper of yours, and the unpleasant way you have of using your tongue.”
“We know him,” Jerry hastened to say, motioning toward Noddy. “I can’t say we’re friends of his, nor is he of us. But as we come from the same town we’d be glad to do what we can for him, though he has done us several mean turns.”
“I don’t want any of your help!” exclaimed Noddy. “You can mind your own business, Jerry Hopkins, and you too, Bob and Ned. I can get along without you. I’m going to get possession of my cocoanut grove and I’ll have this man arrested for keeping it!”
“You’re talking foolishly,” interposed Mr. Carter.
“I’ll sue you!” retorted the Cresville bully. “I tell you I paid a deposit on this grove and I’m going to have it.”
“I’m sorry for you, but I think you have been cheated,” went on Mr. Carter. “I know that company which pretended to sell you this land. It is a swindling concern. A number of persons have been fooled into buying land here and when they came to take possession of it they found it was a swamp. But you are the first one who tried to lay claim to my land,” he added, with a grin.
“You’ll find this no laughing matter!” cried Noddy, his anger getting the best of him. “I tell you I’m going to have my rights. I’ll see a lawyer.”
