Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-09-17
prOachful and injured. a if he had been


proachful and injured, If he had been
deceived
~And have also been at the expense
OF sending mining exp TT to Montana
TO report upon the property" added
Wynans.
-And your expert has eported?s
-He has, SIR. / may add l am in re-
ceipt of very surprising information.
The merchant stirred uneasily, an in
tense flush replacing the pallor which
had mantled his face.
"Such information, in fact, &" explained
Perry, that l do not care to part with
my Musselshell property on any terms
whatever.
He arose quietly, as If he had nothing
more 10 say on the subject.
~Oh. well, seeing it's yOu,- Perry de-
clared the merchant, with a wheedling
sort Of tone, Il will be liberal. 1 want
10 give my son a new home far from his
present temptations, and have fully de-
cidsd TO send him to Montana SUPP ose
we say a couple OF thousands for the
propertY?S
II am very sorry, Mr.. SlIidder," re-
spOnded Perry, ~but have decided not
to sell the lands in question-certainly
not before l have again visited Montana
In person
Hiram Skidder drew his breath hard,
~Then you won't put a price on them?"
-Not at pTesent-nO, sir.
Cant l tempt you?" queried the mer-
chant. forcing a smile.
4 don't believe you can, sir. But you
should remember there are plenty Of
wild lands for sale near mine. l expect
to go out that way soon, so that your
son can have me for a nelghbOr. Il"
Il Will give yOu IS, 600, Perry inter
rmnrnd the merchant with q =
ness which attested how eager he was
to carry his point
Indeed? You must have had good
news from the Musselshelli"
@NOt a wOrdl7
an any case, I must decline your
offer
The words seemed 10 plunge the mer-
chant into a veritable CONSERVATION
-YOu can't mean IL, " he protested II
told my son he should have these lands,
and so must make you another and
final offer. Let US say $40, OOOi"
Perry shook his head emphatically.
Ten thousand dollars or 10 cents
it's all the same TO me, Mr.. Skidder," he
declared Money won't buy themi"
what not SEQ, 900, all in cash, within
five minutes?" cried the merchant
@No, sirl"
~Not fifty thousand?"
SNO. nor twice fifty thousand, as
sured Perry, with the same quiet smile
as before Il have no intention OF sell
ing those lands, Mr.. Skidder, and must
decline to entertain any proposition look
ing to their purchased"
Hiram Skidder became deathly pale
with the rage and vexation these declara-
lions caused him. A flood of furious re-
prOaches and threats trembled upon his
lips But he controlled himself,
IL am very sorry, he faltered, with
averted face. ~I'll have to be content
with sending my son out there to be
your neighbor, as you have suggested.
That's all, sir.@
Perry Wynans again inclined his hand
some figure gracefully and vanished.
What glance of hate and wrath was
that the merchant sent after himi
The thleving villainl" he calculated.
~TO talk in that way about a piece of
property I sold him for almost nothingi
But of course he has received extraor-
binary reports from his special agent.
What can be the secret?"
Springing TO his feet, he strobe to and
fro excitedly, knitting his brows in an
intense study as TO the ways and means
of recovering possession of the lands
with which he had so lightly parted,
supposing them to be worthless.
a see what to do, he finally decided.
II must start for the Musselshell this
very night. At the best I'm on the verge
of failure. / am tired of these vain at
tempts to get on my feet again. All is
lost here, an d l have all to gain there.
II l can get out there ahead of Perry
Winans, and catch him in some quiet
corner, with no one looking and with
those deeds on his person, before they've
been recorded, I'll soon be master of the
situation!"
The look upon his face attested that
he meant it. all things evil being writ
ten thereOn-hate and greed, and even
violence and robbery.