"Angus?"

"Yes?"

"Bill Braddock here. Look, I've got a client who's prepared to pay cash, sight unseen."

"What does that mean?" asked Angus.

"That means he's got $50,000 cash, ready to hand over to you today, if you want to sell the farm to him. This is a once in a lifetime deal, Mr. Magill, I think you ought to accept."

"I was hoping for a bit more than that," said Angus.

"I'm sorry," said the agent, "On today's valuation, your property is not worth much. It's very run down, and the city is going north, not south. I'm sorry to say this, but $50,000 is about the best you can expect."

"I'll ring you back," said Angus.

He hung up and went to see his wife. She listened gravely as the implications sank m.

"We won't be able to buy much with that," she said at last, "Not much at all. Maybe a small house, with a little garden."

"It's a bit disappointing, really," said Angus, "I thought this place was worth a lot more. We should have sold up years ago, when prices were better."

"Too late for thinking that," said Mrs. Magill, "So, what do you think we should do?"

"Sell," said Angus, "If we stay here, we'll end up with a house that's too far gone to repair, and besides, we'll probably be happier with a small house. At least we'll be nearer to the city.'"

"OK," said his wife, "We're too old to wait any longer. Might as well do it."

Angus went back to the phone.

The agent was incredibly helpful. He visited the next day and handed the check over. Angus and his wife looked at it in wonder. So much money so quickly. Angus signed the contract and watched the agent slip it into a blue folder.

"I'll send you a copy as soon as I get back," he said, "Now, you have a maximum of three months to find somewhere else to live."