River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-01-16


"IIe's tricky. INSCRIPTIONS rascal.
and, think. a pretty hard man to get
the best of"
Il amt tried to get the best of him.
He's got the best o me. and now all I'm
amin TO dos to get my money back.
say nothin' bout the interest. though.
Of course. If car get the interest. il
rightly belongs to me. Think I'll win
II. jedge?''
We'll talk it over and see what We
can do
1t seems like plain enough case and
I guess you'll say 80 yourself. when
you hear about the whole transaction"
'You mustn't feel too certain of win
ming. I've had enough experience TO
know there's no sure thing Ia law suits.
and. besides. Ezra, I've been talking
this matter over with YOUR attorney,
Mr.. Face, and I'm afraid for you that
his advice has been sound. as il usually
is"
NJ. Pace gave a nervous cough and a
delighted squirm in his chair and then
put a deep. thoughtful look on his
blush-inaamed features. Praise from
Judge Billings Gayte is praise, in
deed.
WELL" said Ezra, with an attempt
10 appear resigned. II s'pose we all
learn some eS'ry day. an If you say
can't get my rights out o McTagg. I'll
have TO grin and bear il. though it
don't seem right.
before can say anything further
proc, eded the judge. dropping the cor
dial manner with which he had begun
the interview. Il must hear your en-
tire story. and YOU must be careful to
include every detail. no matter how dis
creditable to YOU il may he; and. Ezra"
added the Judge. impressively. 'you
will finI il to your final advantage TO
stick close to the exact truth. as we
are bound by the law to preserve our
clients secrets"
This seemed somewhat short of the
Difference customarily paid to
wealthy farmer. capitalist and eN-jus-
tice of the peace. and Ezra at first
thought of an indignant rely, but the
judges steady gaze silently command
ed him to proceed with his statement
of the case.
well. Judge" he began, 'what
wanted to know is this: S'pose mans
give up 1000 good money JUS TO help
trade through an make little COM
mission for himself. can't he sue the
men that got his money when he finds
out IL was a swindle and deliberate
robbery"
Its not necessary to suppose a case.
Il.
with. Now tell me how you got into
this tangle with McTagg and young
Hockensmith."
We'll, accordin' 10 my notion. il was
all planned out when 1 traded them 40
acres loinin' my farm to Joe Hocken-
smith last October. You see, he'd been
a-tlinging me for some time to make
trade with him, an | knowed he'd
been cdIculatin' to put in some oil wells,
an so held off. till fin'ly the upshot OF
il was. we agreed the land was worth
$. 900. That's what they call "A tradih'
figger, an Joe give me piece o city
property in Chicago worth $1,000, too,
he said. INT that was also "A tradin'
figger.' cause il was 16 mile from the
courthouse. an all under water when
see ii after the trade was made"
Exactly"
well. | didn't say nothin' when
see Id been beat. but while was won
derin' if Joe actual, thought there was
oil on that land, long comes this ere
McTagg. an says:
".Mr. Grassneck. 7 hear you've sol
that 40 acres joinin' your place.
YES says |. I've sol II. Wan TO
buy it?'
"'Say.' says he. is that a straight
sale. OF have you got string tied onto
itT
".Mr. McTagg.' seys 1. the lands en-
tireIy out % my hands. Was you look
in to buy it?'
Say says he. I wish you'd tell me
the truth about this ere sale. cause If
you do. you'll likely make some moary
out of II. an il you don't, you won't
Then ] saws. mir. McTagg. amt
20. time to talk to men that doubts thy
word Jus like that.
We'll. we had some more a that kind
q talk. an he wants to know if Joe
Hockensmith a like to sell, which; ]
knowed he would. cause he'd been ask
in me TO bug IL back at a small figgcr.
so told McTsgg If he wanted the land
to 70 see the owner. Then he says:
Its like this: I'm authorized TO
make mighty good offer for that land.
bu: got special reasons for not wantin'
10 deal with Joe Hockensmith. l got
good advice can't make no trade with
him uohow. hut man like you ought
to make pretty fair bargain-tha: is.
il our scheme amt leak'd out
Il asst him what scheme he was re-
fcrIing To. an he says: You'll hear of
il as soon as anyone.
which YOU have found to be true.
eh?' said the judge.
"Thcn." continued Ezra. not noticing
the interruption. 4 asst him how much
he'd pay for he land. an what terms he
wanted. an how much | get for making
the trade an all that. an he says:
"'l come to you cause | can't MAKE
this trade myself. an you bein' a Chris
tian man. | knowed I could trust to
your honor. Now got to get that land,
an | ought TO have a contrac' tonight.
IL amt for me. but the CONTRACTS to be
in my name for obvious reasons /
think that's what h. said.
Now, he continues. we want tdat
land as cheap as we can get il. but we
want il bad. an IL you do your best an
get me contrac' for il for the lowest
figger Joe Hcckensmith II take. thei IS
a hundred an half in it for you. As
| to- the terms says he. you can read
this. but don't say word about It TO
nobody
Then he shows me telegraph ;hat
saws: Make a contrac' at oncet. If
necessary, offer $1,000. $1,000 dow n.
balance 20 days and IT was signed. j.
l.. Mason, Superintendent
"Slandered Oil company" asked me
judge.
Yes. Then. thinks !. can see
| through this scheme. an aimed then
an there to make up what ! lost seilIn'
out so cheap So says: I'll do il if
can, MIR. Mcfagg,' an he says: Its a
GO
We'll. didn't have no trouble getiin
Joe Hoekensmith to agree to give ne
half o what he gets over an above