The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-07-05

town. At last they reached the stand
for the sale, and the beer pavilion and
| the flock of little flags standing sentries
over the lots. There were no trees and
no grass, but pools Of water glimmered
under huge dock leaves, and there was
rank growth of plantain and jimson
and smartweed, making the ground
quite as green, from distance, as grass
would do. Mr.. Wheelan plodded through
the mud, and Gus splashed after. The
lucky speculator halted before q flag
bearing the number 1903. Gus also
halted.
II suppose they will build up rapid
ly," said Gus. Wheelan made motion
with his shoulders, between shrug and
shiver. "You thinking of investing,
young man?'
"Well, yes. Amt it a good invest
ment?''
eff you can afford to lose the money,
young man. then you can afford to speou.
late in land, and you may make some-
thing if you buy right. But if you can't
afford to lose you better not touch it.
You heard Mrs. Grove. She's apt to be
sound.' So saying, Wheelan walked
away.
"I'll bet he's just trying to scare me
off cause he wants that lot himself,
was GUS instant thought. So readily do
we impute deep laid craft to other pee-
ple's motives, aud SO seldom do we al
low them to be swayed by random I'M
pulses like our own. Ten minutes later
Gus was the owner of lot 1908. and he
returned home with the deed in his
pocket. He found Lizzie distracted with
anxiety over his long absence. Matters
were not greatly helped by the explana-
tion. Lizzie grew quite pale. "Gus-
then-the - parlor'-sAe stammered,
making pathetic effort at concealing
her Disappointment, "but, of course
we can wait awhile " If she had re-
preached him it would have been cas-
ier, Gus thought. He kissed her and
called her his precious, brave little
wife, and Lizzia, poor soul, for min
ute believed that such words were better
than chairs or curtains. He broke into
fervid eulogy of the lots, directly on
the street car line'-
"Oh, did you go out in the cars,
Gus?"
"Of course not; the track amt laid,
but it's right Oh the line. And there's
an eastern syndicate and parties from
Chicago The magnificent gossip of
the wagon was repeated until Lizzie's
imagination caught fire, and she re-
preached herself for her wicked disap-
pointment. Before they went to bed
they had made no less than 5000. In
view of such opulenoe Lizzie herself
did not consider beefsteak for supper
extravagant. She even allowed herself
to be helped twice.
From thenceforth lot 1903 may be
said to have become enc Of the family.
They talked of it constantly. Gus and
Sammy were taken out to view the
family estate. In consequence Mrs.
Plaintiff spent the most of the night
removing cookie burs and mud from
their garments. Sammy explained that
in their glee they had "Wfastled" and
alinpaa. fisaF, amt papa real kinder
happy all the time pow2' said Gus,
HE gives me nickel most every Sun.
day."
4OS, uOd1AcS puO Save GIL IL L
was you," said his mother. And for
some reason she sighed.
She asked Mrs, Grove t9 give haF
more work, saying she could find more
time. She found it by rising earlier
can how's 1902" said Mrs. Grove
"Sold it yet?"
"No, but Gus is offered 800, but
there is strong talk of the canning fac
tory wanting it. - /
"Tell him to sell it if it'a cash or a
good man.
Gus nodded his head wisely over this
message. 81 guess l understand the cid
Groves little game by this time" he
told Lizzie.
No. 1903 was bought in May. BY
June house lots in Bloward were quoted
at double their May prices. "pnly, I
wish, Gus, they would pay the money
down, said Lizzie. ''They want to pay
SO little down and give notes or swap
property"
"You don't understand business, Liz
zie. If we all paid down, there wopldn't
be money enough ta 80 round"
IN July 1903 was held at 81, 500.
Two lots adjoining it We're actually sold
to eastern men for that price, cash.
They belonged to Mr.. Wheelan. Grove
has sold five lots to the canning factory
for 81, coo apiece" Gus reported. ~