The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-02-05
2 the Chicago board of trade had just

Of the Chicago board OF TRADE Hdu Jus'
cen admitted to the presence-"1es
i; that's one of the finest locations IL
he 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 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 say-it's the
best bargain you ever had::S
"But, my dear ,sirs-S15,000! Why,
that is q Chicago, Price-and for dev-
ilish good locality at that!''
Mr.. Fefch 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 I could af.,cld to do it,
I'd hold that piece of pro- erty 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 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 yoll
said? The price? Fifteen thousand.
You say you will give fifteen fve-I
can't take it till the gentleman refuses.
Til 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. He had NO
means of knowing that the telephone
was dummy, rung at the critical point
II the interview by the pressure Of Mr.
! l7ench's foot upon a convenient button
n the floor beneath the desk. Nor did
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
| Of 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 a 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 ccniraa:y's stock and pay for it
| calf 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 a monopoly
on the brick needed by us. I 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, 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 man down
here to look over the situation, and I've
had q 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
OF the Gates tract to a location farther
down the river, but he wouldn't have
that. wouldn't fool with him minute
II wasn't sure that Edgeley has plenty
of money"
Wanted to see the deeds, did he ?"
said Fench, thoughtfully. CD you
know, Sharpless. I've been sorry "a dozen
times you burned that deed. 1t would
nave been as 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.
Il thought I had, but 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 myrapers.''
He was back in ten minutes without
the missing document. did you find
.t?'' he asked.
NO"
''Then it's gone"
well, it don't matter much, except.
as l say, they'd be handy to show.
They're both recorded
Yes, they're recorded all right, but.
-Sharpless paused and knitted his
rows at the small bisque figure hold