Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-07-13

Fench rung off and resumed his seat
at the desk. "You see how it goes,
Mr.. Brentwood; that fellow will be
down here inside of 20 minutes to raise
his own bid. How would you like 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 16, was
precisely what he wanted. He had no
means of knowing that the telephone
was 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
it occur to him at 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
to breathe the speculative atmosphere
ct 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
to 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 the last visitor.
"Shut off that hungry crowd for
few minutes, Fench, and I'll go over
these papers with you," he said.
Fench touched the electric button on
his desk, and when the clerk answered
the bell he gave the order to admit no
one till further notice. ''Now, then, I'm
ready for YOU"
"Well, about this Woodenware COM
pany; they're all right. They'll bring
their own operatives, and they agree to
build tenements on the block next to
their factory, selling them to their men
on the installment plan. The sawmill
people you know about. They'll take
Town company's stock and pay for it
half cash and half lumber. This fire.
brick fellow wants to know if we own
the furnace and rolling mill plants; and
If we'll agree to give him monopoly
on the brick needed by us. told him
we would, If he would take Block at
our figures, paying half cash; brick to
be taken on same basis and to be
furnished when ordered"
''That's a good, careful provision"
Fench broke in, respectfully as the NOR
tar isn't dry on the first set of Innings
yet. Go on
"Then here's Edgeley, the cutlery
man. I've been having the devils own
time with him. He sent a man down
here to look over the situation, and I've
had dozen interviews with him. First
he made me go to the courthouse and
overhaul the records. Then he wanted
tosee the deeds. tried to switch him off
II the Gates tract to- a location farther
down the river, but he wouldn't have
that. wouldn't fool with him a minute
it wasn't sure that Edgeley has plenty
of money"
Wanted to see the deeds, did hep
said Fench, thoughtfully. "D' you
know, Sharpless, I've been sorry a dozen
times you burned that deed. It would
have been as good as any to show; and
I've wanted it 20 times if have once. :"
But you've got Gates deed to u.s."
!. II thought I had, but I haven't"
What have you done with it?"
Il don't think I've ever had it. The
last remember of it was that night
when you put it in your pocket and said
you'd have it recorded with the other
'Look in your safe," said Sharpless
and I'll go through my papers,"
He was back in ten minutes without
the missing document. ibid you find
it?'' he asked.
"No."
''Then it's gone"
well, it don't matter much, except
as I say, they'd be handy to show
They're both recorded
EYES,. they're recorded all right, but
-Sharpless paused and knitted his
brows at the small bisque figure hold.
ing the matches On Fench's desk:
"But what?'
Have you heard the talk about Xii.
grow?" l. - 80
WHO, the dead man? No; what
about him?' ~.
They say he isn't dead-that he's
been seen on the mountain; comes anl
perches himself up on that crag theey1
call Eagle Cliff to watch the Improve:
ments We're making on his farm. :. ia.
THE devil you say!" Mr.. Fench came
out Of his chair with . jerk and begarr
to walk the floor nervously. The cooler
headed lawyer smiled and waited
Fench tramped himself into perspira:
ton, and then sat down again with.
groan. .5 , s., Il. s3 s 55
ere done up. sharpless me ul
slick and lean. That ma 4 can send 81