The Delta independent., 1897-02-03
"A MODERN MIRACLE.

once IN une new DullulnS OI inc ANA
coochee Land, Manufacturing and I'm
provement company, giving audience to
prospective investors as they were ad-
mitted one at time by tho clerk in
the outer room. II, in the beginning,
tho manager had played a somewhat
leisurely second to Lawyer Sharp!ess'
lead, all traces of inertness vanished
with the breaking of ground for the
new city, and Mr.. Fench became for
the time an incarnation of enthusiasm
and restless activity. Allacoochce and
its advantages circumscribed the rim
Of his horizon; the rest Of the world was
. mere tail to the comet of which this
latest luminary in the urban galaxy
was the head.
And evidence was not wanting that
no inconsiderable portion of the world
Of investment stood ready to take ALA
coochee at Mr.. Fench's appraisal. From
morning till night the outer Office was
crowded with buyers; and the rocket
like flight of prices seemed only to add
to the eager anxiety of those who wait
ed their turns to get speech with the
brsy manager. 1t is true that Mr..
Tonch left nothing undone to fan the
flame of enthusiasm, and it is equally
certain that some of his methods were
rather more enterprising than honor
able; but no one stopped to analyze
the reaping process while the golden
harvest was SO plentiful, and Mr..
l'ench's little ruses were accepted and
credited by scores of people who in the
ordinary walks of life were neither
Enaves nor fools.
"Lot 90, Block lean elderly gentle
man whose portly figure and benignant
smile were best known to frequenters
of the Chicago board of trade had just
been admitted to the preserce-"Yes,
sir; that's one of the finest locations in
the city. Sold the lot next to it yes
terday to the Morton Cold Storage COM
rany, and they've got 40 men work.
ing on the foundations for their build
ing now. No matter what you pay for
1t to-day. the value will double within a
week; it's bound to. Why-the present
price, did you ask? Fifteen thousand
dollars; and If you stay here till the
day after tomorrow you'll soy it's the
best bargain you ever had"
"But, my dear sir-$15OO0l Why,
that il . Chicago price-and for . dew
fish good locality at that!"
Mr.. Fench suddenly changed his tao
tics. II know, Mr.. Brentwood, to a
man who hasn't had time to take in
the details of the situation IL must
seem as IL we'd all gone stark crazy
down here. If I could afford TO do It.
I'd hold that piece of property till you
could look around and see for yourself;
] know how the thing looks" there
was an impatient ring at the telephone
Excuse me Just minute. Hello!
well, hello! Who is that? What?
Stanley? All right; what is it7 About
what lot? oh, you mean the one next
to the Morton company? Why-there's
a gentleman here now figuring on that.
What's that? Stand n little closer to
the 'phone-now then, what was Il you
said? The price7 Fifteen thousand.
You say you will give fifteen fve-I
can't take 1t till the gentleman refuses.
I'll call you up little later. Good-by."
Fench rung of and resumed his seat
at the desk. "You see how II goes.
Mr.. Brentwood; that fellow will be
down here inside of 20 minutes to raise
his own bid. How would you likc-to
look at some Of this residence prop
erty on Arlington terrace?"
Mr.. Brentwood thought he should
prefer something in the business dis
trict: in fact, that Lot %, Block 10, was
precisely what he wanted. He had no
means Of knowing that the telephone
IVES . dummy, rung at the critical point
in the interview by the pressure Of Mr..
Fench's foot upon . convenient button
in the floor beneath the desk. Nor did
So occur 70 him ut the time that the one
sided conversation at the instrument
was peculiarly opportune. For the
moment the Chicago broker, like good
ly number Of those who were permitted
70 breathe the speculative atmosphere
cf Mr.. Fench's private Office. took leave
Of the calm good sense which made him
respected among his business associates
in Chicago. He swallowed the bait in
nocently. believed all he saw and heard.
and refused to be diverted until he had
prevailed upon the reluctant Mr.. Fench
70 accept . round sum to bind the bar
gain on the coveted piece Of property.
As Brentwood left the Office by one
door, Sharpless entered by another and
sat down in the chair lately occupied
By IL last visitor.
"shut on that hungry crowd for .
few minutes. Fench, and I'll 60 over
these papers with you" he said.
fench touched the electric button on
his desk. and when the clerk answered
ths bell he gave the order 70 admit no
one TIL further nosjoe. Nov, thea, I'm
ready for you"
"Well. about this woodenw1re com
pany; they're all right Th<y'u bring
their own operatives, and they agree 70
hui16 tepemenfs - th> blr-rk v.~xx s<,