The railroad claim agent finished lighting his cigar and with a dirty look at the young man facing him, said And now young teller what makes you thankful that our number twelve set the woods afire two years ago last August tenth? The young man, shifting weight to the other foot: I have the proof, and after having appraised the damages done by the fire, the owners asked me to come to you and file claim for 23,500orinotherwords,anaverageof10 an acre for the 2,350 acres burned.