The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-01-23


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 foundation for their build
ing now. No matter what you pay for
it to-day, the value will double withina
week; it's boundto. 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 tho
best bargain you ever had"
"But, my dear sir-$15,0O0! Why,
that is Chicago price-and for dew
ilish good locality at that"
Mr.. Fench suddenly changed his tao
ties. "Isknow, 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 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 q minute. Hello!
well, hello! Who is that? 'What2
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 little closer to
the 'phone--now then, what was it you
said? The price? Fifteen Thousand.
You say you will give fifteen five-I
can't take it till the gentleman refuses.
I'll call you up little later. Good-by.'
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. Ee had no
means of knowing that tho telephone
was q dummy, rung at the critical point
i'll 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 a good
ly number Of those who were permitted
to breathe the speculative atmosphere
Of Mr.. T'ench'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 MIR. -Fench
to accept a round sum to bind the bar
gain ON the coveted piece. ofproperty.
AS Brentwood left the office by one
door, ShaFpless entered by another and
sat down in the chair lately occupied
by the last visitor. =
"Shut off that hungry crowd for
few minutes, Feneh, and III go over
these papers with you be 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. oNo w, 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 tencments OIL the block next to
their factory, selling them to their men
ON the instaalment 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
it We'll agree to give him q monopoly
on the brick needed by us. told him
we would, if he would take Block 8 at
our figures, paying half cash: brick to
lie taken on same basis and to be
furnished when ordered"
"That's a: good; careful. provision"
Fench broke in, Especially 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 q man down
here to look over the situation, and I've
had dozen interviews with him. First
he made INC go to the courthouse and
overhaul the records. Then he wanted
tosee the deeds. / tried to switch him off
of the Gates, tract to q location farther
down the river, but he wouldn't have
that. Iwouldn' tfoG with him minute
if wasn't sure that Edgeley has plenty
of money - ;. *, -, s~:-
"Wanted to see the deeds, did hep"
said Fench, thoughtfully. 'D' you
know, Sharpless, I've been sorry dozen
times you burned that deed. 1twould
have been Us good as any to show; and
I've wanted it. 20 times if I have once"
"But you've got Gates deed to u.s."
II thought I had, but haven't"
"IVhat have you done with it2'' a
81 don't think, Eve ever had it. The
last remember of 1t 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 shnrpless,
''and I'll go through my papers,. /
He was back in ten minutes without
the missing document. "Did you find
it?" he asked. *;:@+
"No."
@.Then IT'S gone"
-"Nell, it don't matter much, except,
as say. they'd be handy to show.
They're both recorded"
eyes, they re recorded all right, but"
paused and knitted his
browsEat the small bisque figure hold