The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-12-24

HE WAS HUSTLER FROM THE WORD GO.
body else. You can make five or six
hundred per cent. on that money as
easy as not. Do like everyb body else
like your neighbors out there-and in
vest here"
John was about to offer some obiec-
ton, but before he could say anything
the door opened and seven or eight men
came in, all anxious to make purchases
of lots. Scraggs had talked them up
earlier in the day, and they had been
out to see the additions, and now came
back full Of enthusiasm.
John listened to their talk, and, after
they went out, listened to Scraggs some
more, and at last the fever began to
take on him. All his neighbors who
had mortgages on their homes and
couldn't pay them because they were
not due were investing in town lots,
and he supposed that if every body was
investing he might as well do SO, too.
If it worked out right it was q grand
opportunity to get start in the world
and build him q nice home and place
his wife and child outside the pales
Of want. Yes, he believed that he'd
invest, since he couldn't pay of the
debt. He told Scraggs SO, and in no
time Scraggs had his papers out ready
to write up the contract and get it all
safe before somebody else got all the
choice lots. John thought he'd better
go home and talk the matter over with
Mary first, but another rush Of Gus
toners and another sale of dozen lots
decided him that delay was dangerous,
SO he told Scraggs to go on and fix up
the contract then and there.
Scraggs, by the way, was typical
western real estate agent-in some par
ticulars, at least. He was full of bust
ness, unsparing of his talk, bland, snil-
ing and wildly enthusiastic. lie was a
hustler from the word go, and he never
tired of talking up and showing up the
advantages of his town. 1t came as
natural to him to figure up enormous
profits on investments in town lots as it
did to eat and sleep, and he always made
it SO plain that the would-be investor
could almost see the profits sticking ont
He always made each customer feel that
he was giving him decided advantage
over all other customers by letting him
him have lots that he had reserved for
his own special tooth, SO to speak.
It must not be inferred that Scraygs,
or for that matter the average weston
real estate agent, was or is dishonest.
1,nl 1r%r -
toners were crowding on him anxious
to make investments, and there was
lots of money in it to him. and he was
anxious to build up his town, ami all
that sort Of thing, SO likely as not he
never had time to think of what the
outcome of the affair might possibly be
to his investors. Under such circum-
stances the best of US are liable to for
get some things. But enough of that.
When John Green got his papers and
had paid down his money, he left Mr..
Scraggs' Office and started down street.
He had not gone far, however. before,
in turning corner, he came face to
face with Harry Pearson. who was hur-
rying along in the direction of Scraggs'
Office. Harry was coming at such
speed that he did not see Green until he
had nearly collided with him, and when
he did see him he stopped dead short
and from his looks and actions it was
apparent that he would not have been
more surprised if he had met the ear
of Russia with all his royal attendants.
"Why! Mr.. Green" he exclaimed, lis
it possible you are in town SO early?"
YES" said John, Il came down this
morning"
THAT SO? Well, you haven't seen
Scraggs yet, at any rate?'
Yes, have just come from his of.
| fee"
What! You've seen Scraggs?"
"Yes, and tried my best to get him to
accept the money, but he wouldn't"
Tin sorry you mentioned it to him
until l got there. l was on my way
now, and hurrying with all possible
speed to get there before you did. But
perhaps you have not come to any terms
with him yet?"
eyes, l have. / have invested the
money in town lots"
''Tut, tut. Just my luck think i,
had been there I could have induced