Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-12-09

an quite welcome to retain all excess a,
-pshaw I couldn't do it-not even with
him. Twould te rank swindle. Rut.
what temptation!"
Tom got upon his feet and paced the
hoor OF his two room house Could he
honorably act, In business, for man
whom ne hated so intensely-scll his
services, for money, to rival? On the
other hand. could he refuse the chance
plainly and freely offered, to become a
man OF means, redeem his reputation as
business man, and reward Elite Rayth-
am, so far as his lifc's devotion could
be q reward. for the graciousness with
which she had apparently waited for
him? To take the minister's money and
also the woman the little fellow adorcd
would be brutal, and yet, after all, it
won dn't be his doing; for if Elite were
to accept him. it would be proof that
she could not have been willing to be-
come Mrs Straighten.
"lll sell first and 10 k into the ethics
OF the thing afterward. Tom exclaimed
as he sat down to write a letter accept
ing the charge and the terms. 1t was a
carefully written letter; although it con.
tained only SIX lines besides the SUPER
scription and signature. Tom rewrote
~ AOut CclOTC III seemed enough
busincSs-like, decorous and gentlemaniy
just enough-not the east shade more.
Then he wrote hasty notes to all possible
buyers in the territory, announcing that
he was agent for the sale of Double Row
Ranch. Men who could promptly be
reached by mail were only part of those
who came to mind; in an hour he was off
on horseback to see Others Pcrhaps
Strengthen would learn what a fool he
had made OF himself and sell in New
York, where there are men who appar.
emily know the value of everything on
the face OF the Garth, and are willing to
buy whatever is offered at sacrifice. In
such case OF prior sale, no power of at
torney would save Tom: could it be that
the scheming little rascal was devising
just such trick to humiliate his rival?
Fear, hope, suspicion, love. all lent
Tom wings and sharpened his wits In
three days he had sold Double Bow
Ranch for $15O,OOO. Before the ink was
fairly dry on the drafts and notes given
in payment, Tom was galloping to a
telegraph station, from which he tcle-
graphed Straighten: "Sale concluded.
Please wire on receipt Of this. Am
waiting at station Two hours later
they seemed two years, as Tom ground
the planks of tho station platform under
his heavy bootS-came the reply: "De-
lighted to hear it. Thanks for prompt
ness"
Tom waved tho dispatch triumphantly
In the air, and shouted: "Now for home
and her!"
Three days later, and he had sold his
own ranch to one of his men; the man
had no money, but Tom insisted that
notes would be entirely satisfactory. No
sooner was he on All East-bound train |
than he began to count the hours, but |
his conscience soon took him in hand |
and made him very uncomfortable. The |
more he discussed the difference between
the upset price" and the sum he had |
obtained for Double Bow, the less he
seemed able to accept it, and he was |
still so undecided when he reached New |
York that he wondered whether, after
all, honesty in business affairs was
merely a relative term. His uncertainty |
him to seek Straighten before |
he had been an hour in the city. The |
Old eXasperating look of inquiry shot
from tha little mans eyes as the two |
stood face to face, and the minister Of |
fered his hand.
"Mr. Straightcn," said Tom bluntly,
"you underva!ued your property. l sue
cecded in getting"
"Don't tell me the amount, sir, please;
then I'll have nothing to regret If the
excess was large, allow me to congratu-
late you, with all my heart"
"But," protested Tom, who had de-
cided to suggest compromise, on the
basis of an even division, "you should
not be unjust to yourself through ig-
norance. got"
81 beg your pardon, my dear sir. 4" in
terruptcd the minister, "but this is
matter of conscience Tconld in no cir