The Democratic advocate., 1883-08-11

believed that he could get five thousand
dollars as easily as two, and quieted his
conscience by the salve: can article is
always worth what it will bring
A week or two went by, and Smith was
about calling on one Of the members OF the
Council to say that if the city really wanted
the lot he would sell at their price, leaving
it with the Council to act justly and gen
erously, when a friend said to him.
II hear that the Council had the sub
ject of public square under consideration
this morning"
ssIndeed?'' Smith was visibly excited,
though he tried to appear calm.
eyes; and 1 also hear that they have
decided to pay the extravagant price you
asked for lot of ground at the north end
of the city,
"a thousand dollars an acre."
eyes"
dts real value and not cent more, "
said Smith.
"People differ about that. However,
you are lucky the friend replied. "The
city is able to pay" .
$50 [ think And l mean they shall
pay"
Before the Committee to whom the mat
ter was given in charge had time to call
upon Smith and close with him for the lot,
that gentleman had concluded in his own
mind that it would be just as easy to get
twelve hundred dollars an acre as thou
sand. 1t was plain that the Council were
bent upon having the ground, and would
pay round sum for it. 1t was just the
spot for public square, and the city must
become the owner So, when he was called
upon by the gentlemen and they said to
him:
awe are authorized to pay you your
price," he promptly answered:
''The offer is no longer open. You de-
clined it when it was made. My price for
that property is now twelve hundred dol
lars an acre"
The men offered remonstrance, but it
was of no avail. Smith believed that he
could get six thousand dollars for the
ground as easily as five thousand. The
city must have the lot and would pay al
most any price.
Il hardly think it right, Mr. Smith, :"
said one of his visitors, ''for you to take
such an advantage. This square is for the
public good
LET the public pay then,' was the un-
hesitating answer. "The public is able
enough y
"The location of this park at the north
end of the city will greatly improve the
value of your other property.
This Smith understood very well. But
he replied:
"I'm not so sure of that. | have some
very strong doubts on the subject. It's
my opinion that the buildings [ contem-
plated erecting will be far more to my ad-
vantage. Be that as it may, however, l
am decided on selling for nothing less than
six thousand dollars.
ave are only authorized to pay five
thousand" replied the Committee. eff
you agree to take that sum we will close
the bargain on the spot"
Five thousand dollars was large sum
of money and Smith felt strongly tempted
to close in with the liberal offer. But six
thousand loomed up before his imagination
still more temptingly.
II can get it, said he to himself, ''and
the property is worth what it will bring"
So he positively declined to sell it at a
thousand dollars an acre.
"At twelve hundred you will sell ?" re-
marked one of the Committee, as they were
about retiring.
eyes will take twelve hundred the
acre That is the lowest rate and | am
not anxious even at that price. [ can do
quite as well by keeping it in my own pos
session. But as you seem so bent on hav-
ing it, will not stand in your way. When
will the Council meet again"
''Not until next week
every well. If they then accept my
offer, all will be right, But, understand
me, if they do not accept, the offer no
longer remains open. 1t is matter of
no moment to me which way the thing
goes
1t was a matter of moment to Smith for
all his assertion-a matter of very great
moment He had several thousand dollars
to pay in the course of the next few months
on land purchases, and no way to meet the
payments except by mortgages or sales of
property, and it may naturally be conclud-
ed that he suffered considerable nneasiness
during the time which passed until the
next meeting of the Council.
Ofcourse, the grasping disposition shown
by Smith became the town talk, and people
said good many hard things Of him.
Little, however, did he care, so that he Sc
cured six thousand dollars for lot not
worth more than two thousand,
Among other residents and property
holders in the town was a simple-minded,
true-hearted, honest man named Jones.
His father had left him large farm, a
goodly portion of which, in process of time,
came to be included in the limits of the
new city, and he found much more prof
liable employment in selling building lots
than tilling the soil. The property of Mr..
Jones lay at the west side of the town.
Now, when Mr.. Jones heard of the ex.
orbitant demand made by Smith for FIVE
acre lot, his honest heart throbbed with a
feeling of Indignation.
81 couldn't have believed 1t OF him,
said he. 'Six thousand dollars Prepos-
ferrous Why, would gipe the city lot
twice the size, and do it with pleasure, u
"You would ?" said member of the
Council, who happened to hear the re-
mark
Certainly would"
"You are really in earnest" |"
"Undoubtedly. Go and select public
square from any of my unappropriated land
in the west side of the city, and I will pass
you title as a free gift tomorrow and feel
pleasure in doing So"
''That is public spirit" said the Coun-
Gilman.
"Call it what you will, am pleased in
making the offer"
Now, let it not be supposed that Mr.
Jones was shrewdly calculating the ad-
vantage which would result to him from