The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-08-17

could do so no longer. 1t is the D. and
H., 1 said. Why, 1 own that road, he
exclaimed in n rather puzzled way Get
out of here, you young rascal! How dare
you como in hero and take my time for an
hour talking about selling to me my own
railroad?' Not so fast, I retortcd Il
have adopted this method OF getting YOU
interested In tho proposed extension of the
line for your own good. He was still pref
ty hot, but cooled off by degrees while 1
poured the facts and figures into him. and
the upshot of it was that he agreed to OK
tend the road ten miles and make mo man
agcr of the line
"Oncc I heard of II road that was to be
sold because the owner was short of cash
and III other trouble. 1t was street rail
way and was doing good business
though badly managed. l did not have
cash enough within my control to make
the first payments required, but concluded
to go and see u capitalist in ncighboring
town, II man who sometimes took a flicr
III such properties, and see if 1 couldn't
induce him to go in with me- told him
all about tho road, how much business it
was doing, how much better it could do
under better management, and SO on. L
thought had him, but he finally said he
would have to take time in which to con-
slider But this offer only holds good n
few days, l explained 1T is q bargain
and we get it only because tho owncrmust
have ready cash. 1t must be closed at once
or we lose it, Notwithstanding this np-
peal he decided not to invest, and went
away feeling pretty blue, for / knew the
real value of the property and was sure it
would prove rich Investment.
Sin the scat next to me in the train on
my way homo were two young men. /
overheard good deal of their converge
ton. 1t turned out that one Of these men
was on his way TO investigate the conii-
ton of tho very rond had been talking
about, and I had my own opinion as TO
who had sent him. 1t was plain enough
to me that the capitalist who had declined
to go in with me had decided to look into
the road, and il everything was found as
represented to buy the property himself,
leaving NE out in the cold ! thought the
case over and decided upon q plan of act ion
when we reached the city, l picked up
two smart boys whom knew, pointed ont
my man to them and gave them their in
structions. They were TO be paid $40 each
for their services. l knew the first thing
the agent would do was to take n trip or
TWO over the line to note its condition.
After that he would talk to the supcrin-
tendcnt or owner. My boys had orders TO
Keep an eye On the agent, and to board
street car whenever he did Tho cars were
all equipped with cashboxes. there being
no conductors. AS luck would have it, he
started out On his trip at moment when
traffic was dull, and no had not gone more
Than block until one of my boys jumped
on, ana pursuant TO my orders, instead of
simply paying one fare, dropped n half
dollars worth of dimes and nickels in the
cashbox. Farther up the line INV other
boy got on and did the same thing. On
the return trip both boys did the tricl,
again and finally l stepped aboard and
dropped lot Of small change in The box.
pretending tiiat did not want any ono TO
SEQ me do il. On arrival mt the end of The
road the stranger made bee line for tho
telegraph Office and sent this dispatch TO
his principals
Twill be home tonight. Property no
good They are stulling tho receipts
My little game worked to charm.
Tho capitalist had actually begun ncgotia.
lions by wire with the owner of the prop
crty, but hauled off and would have moth
ing more to do with it as soon as lie rccciv-
cd tho report of his agent. When Ilcarncd