The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-12-31

ants. Several new buildings were put
in course of erection, and three news
papers, two of them with daily issues,
were established in the town.
Many of the lots were sold two or
three times within as many days, and
always at a large advance. Spccula-
ton ran wild and option dealing be-
came the rage of the hour. John Green
made no effort to sell his lots, for they
were well located, and he felt secure in
holding them. They would go on in
creasing, he thought, and when the
| railroad companies began to construct
their lines into the place, and all the
other public improvements were put
under way, their value would go be-
yond anybody's expectations. lie de-
termined to hold them, and hold them
| he did.
But Scraggs made an effort to sell
them, and in a short time he found a
| customer who offered to take them at
double what John paid. Scraggs sent
for John and laid the offer before him,
| saying:
1T is a big profit on the investment,
Mr.. Green, and my advice is to take it,
NO. said John, Il can do better
than that next year. Wait till the rail-
! roads come in"
IL tell you, Green" Scraggs went on,
''now is good time to sell. You double
your money, and that is profit enough.
Take my advice and sell out. I can
loan your money where it will be safe
and where it will bring You good inter-
est. Make the change, then when the
mortgage on your farm is due you will
have the money to pay it off,"
| But John shook his head, saying:
'You can get no interest to equal the
profits on the lots, and besides l would
| rather not turn usurer."
Scraggs was silent for little while,
during which he looked hard at the
floor. Then looking up he said:
Screen, have purpose in advising
you as do | do not like to say what
that purpose is, but assure you it is an
honest one, and besides it is well found
ed. For your own good advise you to
! this step. Get your money out Of these
lots, and keep it out"
John made no reply but looked ut
Scraggs incredulously. The agent saw
that he had made no impression, and he
continued:
"Will you promise upon your oath,
Green, never to whisper a word of what
am going to tell you?"
Eyes, if it is right that should not. !"
81 don't know that it would b. ex-
actly right. but know it would be to
49,
on it. save your money and save you
from great deal of suffering, perhaps.
But be that as it may, won't reveal
any secret. 1t wouldn't be safe. / will
say, though, let those lots go and make
your money secure"
"Isn't it secure where it is?" John
asked.
"You heard what said, Mr.. Green"
Scraggs replied, land ought to be able
to draw your own conclusions. l say
take your money out of the lots and
make it safe. That's all can say to
you, and it's more than have said or
will say to anyone else. have Il
reason for advising you to this step.
and strange as it may seem, it is al
together for your interest that do it,
''It's a little strange. indeed, Mr.
Scraggs," John said with an incredu-
lous shake of the head, that you
should feel such an uncommon interest
in my welfare. l cannot understand
why you should make SO great an ey-
ception in my favor. Why am alone
selected from all your customers to re-
ceive the benefit of your advice? Am
more to you than any of the hundreds
of others who have invested in these
town lots? don't think So"
"You are right, Green, you are not
more to me than the others. But it is
not that which influences me. There is
not a man among all my customers
whom | would not advise as do you,
were he placed in like circumstances.
But it is folly to talk and argue. Here
is customer for your lots. Take my
advice and sell out"
NO." said John, "I'll keep them.
know your object, Mr.. Scraggs-I can
see through it perfectly. Those lots
are destined to sell for an enormous
price, and you know it. You see q