Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-02
A LUCKY OVERSIGHT.

/ (F'rom the Cleveland Plain Dealer.)
Years ago a Cleveland man gave his
wife a piece of what he supposed was
worthless Missouri land, which he had
taken in settlement from debtor. It was
a 24O-acre section, and from year to year
| he sent the few dollars which were re-
quired for taxes. If It hadn't been for this
small outlay he might have forgotten all
| about 1t. The property had been put in
| his wife's name, and few weeks ago she
was surprised to receive q letter from an
attorney at Jefferson City making her an
offer for the land. It was long letter, in
which the writer said he had found man
| that was on it, and was willing to give
| $500 for the property. The lawyer went
on to say that he considered 1t very fair
| offer. Half the farm was swamp, and the
other half rock, and it was positively the
| first bona fide inquiry regarding the prop
| erty> that he had heard Of 1.-THE man who
makes the offer is an erratic and touchy
sort of fellow" wrote. the lawyer, ''and 1
| think it would be well to nail him before
| he changes his mind"
| The wife showed the letter to her hUs-
band, who shared her pleased surprise.
That's pretty good" he chuo1led. 81
| never expected to get the taxes back on it.
| It's just as bad as he says 1t ts-half
look at 1t. He said 1T was worth about 81
an acre. Sit down and write. the lawyer
| tnaJ you ii accept MS OILer, ana ASK nlIn TO
| forward the papers at once.
| So the wife sat down and wrote the let
| ter, and just as the husband was starting
| for the office in a great hurry-he always
mail. He slipped it I'm his inside overcoat
| pocket, grasped his umbrella and was off.
| Once or twice thereafter his wife alluded
to. the farm transaction, and, wondered
when the papers would be along. The
| husband replied in an absent-minded way
he was full Of engrossing business at the
they both began to think that the deal had
| fallen through,
One morning, just as the husband was
ST artRg fGr tt Down fo toy towR the posan
why it is the Jefferson City postmark,"
hse cried. Lets see what he says
he cried; Lets see what he says,
Read that, GeorgePi she cried.
And this is what George read:
1t meant when you failed to answer my
| PROPOSE ton You were investigating, and
/ don't blame you. I made my offer in
| the hope that you would snap at it, but it
is evident you haven't snapped. / didn't
dare to put the offer any higher for fear
| Of arousing your suspicious, and perhaps
got It too high as It was. Having made
tell you it was all a trick of the trade--I
| will come down to business. / represent a
mining company, and we are developing
4
| We will give you $4,000 cash for it, That's
| the limit we are willing to go. / win adj
| NIT that there is another company in the
same field, but I feel sure that your adj
| vices from here will convince you that
| the offer we make is a very liberal one.
The moment we hear from you favorably
| the cash will be deposited TO your credit
here in the First National Bank. Kindly
! advise me as to your intentions at the
| earliest possible moment"
| The husband looked at the wife.
/ 'Well, by George!' he said.
/ A wild light was In the wifes eye.
| ''Wh- does this meant she cried.
| George fumbled in his inside pocket
There" he said, as he drew forth the
letter which never went, that's what it
| meanS.''
said.
TRY it again." he cheerfully suggested.
Accept the second Offer and after / send
telegram or two l can guarantee that II
I'm afraid can't trust you"
IN carry 1t in my hand to the office"
| And SO bad and quite inexcueable fall
ing Is the means of putting a beautiful
gliding on, the coming Christmas day in
! that household.