The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-05-07
XII.
PRELIMINARIES.

Two Gays later, Phlllp was once more
established at the Hotel Johannisberg
with the hustle and stress of the new
city already beginning to efface the
memory of the quiet days spent at the
Duncan farm. The changes wrought in
the few weeks were almost incredible
The encroaching flood of buildings had
spread out over the vacant spaces; new
structures of preposterous height and
bulk reared themselves in localities
where Philip remembered seeing the
green grass of the meadow or the stub
BILE of last years cornfield. The streets
were in the chaotic condition which
precedes the laying of pavements; the
gas and water companies rivaling each
otherin making the roadway impassabl
during the hurried trenching for pipes
and conduits. The daily auction-sales
CT real estate continued, but they had
been driven from the busy business
center, and Mr.. Fench's rostrum APP
peared only in the suburbs of Chelten-
ham Heights, Arlington Terrace, or
Chiwassee-by-the-Stream.
Notwithstanding the pressure of n
speculative atmosphere which might
well have turned more steadfast man
aside, Philip held steadily to the pur-
pose which had taken him back to
town. He examined the records in the
old courthouse, and found that deed
in Kilgrow's name had been duly en-
tered with that drawn by Gates, and the
only suspicious circumstance was that
both documents had been recorded on
the same day. In the light of Kilgrow's IS
denial, the appearance On the record Of
the older deed established the fact of
forgery on the part of some one; and
while the presumption of guilt pointed
toward Gates, the anonymous letter to
Duncan fortunately saved Philip from
being led astray at the outset.
Assuming that the deeds themselves
were in the hands of the manager, Philip
called upon Fench in the character of a
possible purchaser of real estate.
''Yes, yes; I remember you-came up
On the train with you. Thought you'd
come around after you'd seen what
we're doing" Mr.. Fench was amia bly,
voluble, and it was some time before
Philip could find space to drive in the
wedge of rejoinder. "Of course; glad
tc show you anything we've got. Inside
or outside property. Mr.. Thorndyke? ?"
"Inside, l Think" Philip replied, eX-
nmining the map spread out on Fench's
desk; "about there, I should say
placing his finger on two vacant lots
well within the limits of the Gates tract.
"Ha! best location in the city-ab-
solutely gilt-edge. guess you know a
good thing when you see it, eh, Mr..
Thorndyke?"
Philip bowed his Acknowledgements
and asked the price.
sixteen thousand apiece; and that's
cheap"
"a month ago should have laughed
at you Mr.. Fench; now, shall only say
that I think you're little ahead of the
market"
Whereupon the manager leaned back,
threw one leg over the arm of his chair,
and proceeded to demonstrate by an
argument in which volubility outran
itself that the price asked was conser-
yative rather than speculative; that
Messrs. This and That, of Cincinnati,
and Senator The Other, of Michigan,
owners of the property on either side of
the lots in question, had refused fabu-
lous offers for their holdings-and
much more to the same effect,
punctuated and emphasized by Mr..
Fenchs right forefnger laid impress
lively in the palm of his left hand.
The visitor listened patiently, and for
once in his life-having definite object
in view-forgot to be bored. When the
manager ran out of breath, Philip said:
81 still think your figure is too high.
hut we can talk of that later; l shall
want little time for investigation and
for an examination of the title"
He was watching his antagonist to
mark the first sign of discomposure. 1t
came at the word title. Fench suddenly
lost interest, and the self-assertive leg
slid Imply down from the arm of the
chair.
Yes, yes-of course; you'll want to
know about these things. and I'd like to
hold the bargain for you, but can't.
Our people won't let me block the
market, not even when it's to their in
terest to do it,"
Philip saw his advantage and pushed
it. Il can see the justice of such rule,