The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1897-12-30
MI.
PRE1IMINARIES

PRELIM1NARIES.
Two days later, Philip was once moro
established at the Hotel Johannisberp
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 cncroaching 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 makingth roadway impossible
during the hurried trenching for pines
and conduits. The daily auction. sales
CT real estate continued, but they had
beer driven from the busy business
center. and Mr.. Fench's rostrum APP
Feared only in the suburbs of Chelten-
ham Heights, Arlington Terrace, or
Chiwassee-by-the-S Stream.
Notwithstanding the pressure of a
speculative atmosphere which might
well have turned a more steadfast man
aside, Philip held steadily to tie pur-
pose which had taken him back to
own. He examined the records in the
old courthouse, and found that a 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 Kilgro VS.
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 Eench in the character of n
possible purchaser Of real estate.
Yes, yes; ] remember you-camc up
on the train with you. Thought you'd
come around after you'd seen what
we're doing" Mr.. Fench was amiably
voluble, 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
or outside property. Mr.. Thorndyke?"
Inside, l think" Philip replied. ex-
nmining the map spread u on Fench's
desk; "about there, | should say
placing his finger on two vacant lots
x.an nithin fha limits ~ tha Catae .oat
"Ua! best location in the city-ab-
solutely g~ilt-edge. guess you know a
good thing when you see it, Ell, 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. l shall only say
that ] think you're a little ahead of the
market"
/. Whereupon the manager leaned back,
threw n leg over the arm Of his chair,
and proceeded to demonstrate by an
argument in which volubility outran
itself hat 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 IN either side of
the lots in question, had refused fabu-
lous offers for' ,theiy holdings-and
much more to the same effect,
punctuated and emphasized by Mr..
Fench's right forefinger laid impress
lively in the palm of his left hand.
The visitor listened patiently, and for
once in his life-having a definite object
in view-forgot to be bored. When the
manager ran out of breath, Philip said:
II still think your figure is too high.
but we can talk of that later; / shall
want a little time for investigation and
for an examination of the title"
He IA 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 orm of the
chair.
"Yes, yes-of course; you'll want to
know about these things, and I'd like to