The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1897-02-13
A CASE In EQUITY.
BY FRANCIS LYNDE.


RnaVes nor fools.
Lot %, Block 1G"-an elderly gentle.
man whose portly figure and benignant
smile were best known 70 freuuenters
of the Chicago board of trade had just
been admitted to the presence-"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
pany, and they've got 40 men work.
ing on the foundations for their build
ing now. No matter what you pay for
it to-day, the value will double within u
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 say it's the
best bargain you ever had"
"Eut, my dear sir-$15,OOO Why,
that is a Chicago price and for dey-
ilish good locality at that"
Mr.. Fench suddenly changed his tao
tics. 81 know, Mr.. Brentwood, to
man who hasn't had time to take in
the details of the situation it must
seem as if we'd all gone stark crazy
down here. If could afford TO 90 it,
ia hold that piece of property till you
could look around and see for yourself;
j know how the thing looks" there
was an impatient ring at the telephone
Excuse me just a minute. Hello!
well, hello! Who is that? What?
Stanley? All right; what is it? About
what lot? Oh, you mean the one next
to the Morton company? Why-there's
gentleman here now figuring on that.
What's that? Stand a little closer to
.the 'phone-now then, what was it You
said? The price? Fifteen thousand.
You say you will give fifteen fve-I
rant take it till the gentleman refuses.
I'll call you up little later. Good-by."
:, Fench rung off and resumed his scat
Mt 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 terracc?'
Mr.. brentwood thought he should
prefer something in the business dis
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 thatthe one
sided conversation at the instrument
was peculiarly opportune. For the
moment the Chicago broker, like good
iy number of those who were permitted
to breathe the speculative atmosphere
rf 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
10 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 a
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 II
half cash and half lumber. This fire.
brick fellow wants to know II we own
the furnace and rolling mill plants; and
if We'll agree tosgiye him monopoly
on the brick needed by us. told him
we would If he would take Block al
our figures, paying half cash; brick tc
be taken on same basis and to be
furnished when ordered"
: That's good, careful provision,
Fench broke in, Especially rs 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 owl
time with him. He sent n man down
here to look over the situation, and ",
had dozen interviews with him. First
he made me go to the courthouse anC
overhaul the records. Then he wanted
TO see the deeds. tried to switch him of
of the Gates tract to q location farthe
down the river, but he wouldn't hav,
that wouldn't fool with him a minut,
if wasn't sure that Edgeley has plent,
of money"
Wanted to see the deeds, did he?
said Fench, thoughtfully. "D' yo,
know, Sharpless, I've been sorry dozeI
times you burned that deed. 1t woul,
have been as good as any to show; ant
I've wanted it 20 times if have once.
: but you've got Gates deed to u.s."
II thought had, but haven't"
"What have you done with it?"
IL don't think I've ever had it. Tn
last l remember of it was that nigh
when you put it in your pocket and SAT-
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 withou
the missing document. did you fin