The Holly chieftain., 1897-12-31
CASE IN EQUITY.
copyright. ,ss,. by }. 3. upplaeo., Col
XII.
pREL1MINARIEs.
BY FRANCIS LYNDE.

MI.
PRELIMINARIEs.
wo days later. Philip was once more
hbiished at the Hotel Johannisberg.
b the hustle and stress of the new
already beginning to efface the
nory OF the quiet days spent at the
ncan farm. The changes wrought in
few weeks were almost incredible.
encroaching food of buildings had
cad out over the vacant spaces; new
nctures of preposterous height and
reared themselves in localities
ire Philip remembered seeing the
en- grass of the meadow or the stub
of last years cornfield. The streets
e in the chaotic condition which
eedes the laying of pavements; the
and water companies rivaling each
er in making the roadway impassable
ing the hurried trenching for pipes
conduits The daily auction-sales
real estate continued. but they had
n driven from the busy business
hter. and Mr.. Fench's rostrum ap-
red only in the suburbs'of Chelten-
m Heights, Arlington Terrace, or
iwassee-by-the-St
Notwithstanding the pressure of n
eculative atmosphere which might
ell have turned more steadfast man
ide, Philip held steadily to the pur-
Use which had taken him back to
wn. He examined the records in the
a courthouse, and found that deed
Kilgrow's name had been duly en-
kred with that drawn by Gates, and the
bly, suspicious circumstance was that
pth documents had been recorded OH
he same day. In the light of Kilgro VS.
eniai, the appearance on the record OF
be older deed established the fact of
trgery on the par; of some one; and
5hile the presumption of guilt pointed
bward Gates. the anonymous letter to
duncan fortunately saved Philip from
Ieing led astray at the outset.
Assuming that the deeds themselves
fere in the hands of the manager, Philip
|alled upon Fench in the character of a
bossible purchaser of real estate.
Eyes, yes; remember vou-came up
IN the train with you. Thought you'd
come around after you'd seen what
we're doing" Mr.. Fench was amiably
and it was some time before
Philip could find space to drive in the
wedge of rejoinder. "Of course; glad
10 show you anything we've got. Inside
,r outside property. Mr.. Thorndyke?'
'Inside, think" Philip replied, ex-
the map spread out on Fench's
desk; "about there, ! should say
placing his finger on two vacant lots
Sell within the limits of the Gates tract.
"Ha! best location in the city-ab-
gilt-edge. Iguess you know n
rood thing when you see it, eh, Mr..
Philip bowed his Acknowledgements
md asked the price.
Sixteen thousand apiece: and that's
heap"
"a month ago should have laughed
1t you.Mr Fench; now, / shall only say
hat I think you're little ahead of the
market"
Whereupon the manager leaned back,
threw one leg over the arm of his chair,
md proceeded to demonstrate by an
'rgument in which volubility outran
itself that the price asked was conser.
'ative rather than speculative; that
Messrs. This and That, OF Cincinnati,
md Senator The Other. of Michigan
owners of the property on either side OF
The lots in question, had refused fabu-
ous offers for their holdings-and
much more to the same effect
pnnctuated and emphasized by Mr.
f'ench's right forefinger laid impress
ively in the palm Of his left hand.
The visitor listened patiently. and TO,
once in his life-having definite object
in yiew-forgot to be bored. When the
manager ran out of breath, Philip said:
Il still think your figure is too high
,ut we can talk of that later; I shall
want little time for investigation and
for an examination Of the title"
He was watching his antagonist tc
mark the first sign of fdiscomposure. II
came at the word title. Fench suddenly
lost interest. and the self-assertive leg
slid Imply down from the arm of the
,hair.
"Yes, yes-of course; you'll want te
know about these things, and I'd like to