The Long Ride Out

ive dollars an acre on the open market. There's a land office across the street, of course. They might be able to turn something up for you...?"

Marlin shook his head. "Sounds a bit out of my price range. Thank you just the same."

The banker stood up before Marlin got to the door. "There are, you know, other options..."

"How do you mean?"

"Well, you don't have to have cash, you see. The principals of the bank are quite willing to lend money with land as collateral."

"Really? Is that a common practice?"

"Of course. Just the other day...well, I couldn't go into any details, you understand. But yes, it's not uncommon at all."

"How much per acre are we talking about?"

The banker shrugged modestly. "Perhaps as high as...five dollars an acre? Maybe higher?"

"Even for land that didn't cost that much in the first place? You could still borrow as high as five an acre against it?"

"I don't quite see what you're driving at, but yes. The railroad has b