Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-09-15
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HusDanoa Fault Which Melted Her
Nearly $4,000.
Years ago a Cleveland man gave his
wife piece Of what he supposed was
worthless Missouri land, tract
which he had taken in settlement from
q debtor. 1t was a 240-acre section,
and from year to year he sent the few
dollars which were required for taxes.
If 1t hadn't been for this small out
lay he would have forgotten about the
property. The property had been put
In his wifes name, and few weeks
ago she was surprSed to receive q
letter from On attorney At Jefferson
City making her an offer for the
land. 1t was long letter, in which
the writer said he had found a man
who would take the tract for the
timber that was on 1t and was willing
to give $500 for the property. The
lawyer went on to say that he con-
sidered it very fair offer. Half
the farm was swamp and the other
half rock, and 1t was positively the
first bona fide inquiry regarding the
property that he had heard of. "The
man who makes the offer is an erratic
and touchy sort of fellow wrote the
lawyer, land / think it would be we'll
to nail him before he changes his
mind
The wife showed the letter to her
husband, who shared her pleased sur
prise.
That's pretty good" he chuckled.
II never expected to get the taxes
back on it. It's just as bad as he says
1t is-half-swamp and half.rock. I
had man who was prospecting out
that way go over and look at it. He
said 1t was worth about 81 an acre.
Sit down and write the lawyer that
you'll accept his offer and ask him to
forward the papers at once"
SO the wife sat down and wrote the
letter, and just as the husband was
starting for the Office in great hurry
he always fancied he was late
she gave it to him to mail. He slip
ped 1t In 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 alb
sent-minded wayne was full Of en-
crossing business at the time-and
when two weeks had elapsed they
both began to think that the deal
had fallen through.
One morning, just as the husband
was starting for downtown, the
postman brought letter for the
wife.
why, it is the Jefferson City
postmark," she cried. Lets see what
he says
She tore the envelope open, hastily
SKINNED over a few lines, and then
looked up, with little shrek.
Read that, George! she cried.
And this is what George read:
"Dear Madam--Of course I knew
what it meant when you failed to
answer my proposition. You were
investigating, and | don't blame you
| made my offer in the hope that you
would snap at it, but it is evident
you haven't snapped. | didn't care
to put the offer any higher for fear Of
arousing your suspicious, and perhaps
l got it too high as it was. Having
made my little confession-your hus-
band will tell you it was all trick
i will come down to business, |
represent a mining company and we
are developing a tract south OF here
and need your farm. We will give
you $4,000 cash for it. That's the
limit we are willing to 60 l will
admit that there is another company
in the field but | feel sure that your
advices from here will convince you
that tie offer we make is a very
liberal one. The moment we shear
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 wife's eye.
"Wh-what does this mean?' she
cried
There" he said, as he drew forth
the letter which never went, that's
what it Means
"I'll have to forgive you this time, f"
she said.
TRY 1t again. he cheerfully sug-
gested. Accept the second offer, and
after | send a telegram or two can
guarantee that 1t will CO."
I'm afraid | can't trust you.'
Il will carry 1t in my hand to the
Office"
And so a bad and quite inexcusable
failing was the means of putting a