Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1902-05-29

/ Day OpLlOn on tnCSe tide lands. N am0
q reasonable cash price"
! Mr.. Penny knew that the Great
Northern wanted the lands, but
would not buy because some one, who
held small strip between the Penny
acres and the roads proposed new
depot, would not sell. But Penny did
not know that the young man, fac
ing him had secured an option on the
much-discussed strip. The option
had cost him dear, but it was the
key to the whole battlefield. So Mr..
Penny, thinking to tantalize the
young man, named very reasonable
figure.
''I'll take an option at that price
for ten days." said Ballaine.
II want $4,000 for the option" re.
piled Mr.. Penny. III give you
month to get that sum. When you
bring me the cash I'll give you the
option"
''That is fair" said Ballaine, rising
to leave the room. 4
keep me posted" shouted Mr..
Penny, as the younger man disap-
peared through the door. p"
II WILL" shouted the retreat;ng
voice, pleasantly, and then Mr.. Penny
heard ringing laugh come back
through the long hall. For the lover
spiration.
That week Ballaine gathered a
dozen young men, personal friends,
leaders in the towns commercial life,
at dinner. At the proper moment
he told them his plan, and they
helped him to win the president of
the Elliott Bay national to his aid.
A telegram to St. Paul offering the
Penny lands under Ballaine's prom
ised option, and the heretofore un-
purchasable strip with it, brought
prompt acceptance, and for two
weeks the young man sold his prop
erty right and left to secure the re-
quired $4,000, while the notice in the
window kept Mr.. Penny, and half the
town also, posted as to his success.
He could have borrowed that amount,
but he had a larger game on foot
that spurred him to win on his own
merits. His office became crowded
with men who desired to buy or sell
some bit of real property and do it
quickly. The sign on the bank win
dow was an advertisement that thou
sands of dollars spent in the usual
channels could not have equaled.
Men went to Ballaine to sell, know
ing that he had the cash to buy.
Men who wanted a certain bit of
property wrote Ballaine confidential
letters to buy the coveted corners for
them. BY prompt buying and SELL
ing Ballaine took commissions from
both sides, and the balance on the
window climbed. When it reached
the $4,000 mark Mr.. Penny capitu-
lated. The word which he left at the
bank that Monday morning brought
Ballaine promptly to his office. The
young man carried a certified check
for $4,000. -
II don't want your check said the
elder man. II want you to take that
sign out of the bank window"
mot just yet," said Ballaine. mot
till my commission for selling your
tide lands to the Great Northern has
been added to it,"
"The road won't buy them and you
know it. That little strip by the
depot will block YOU"
Ballaine ignored the statement. II
have come for my option said he,
extending his check.
II will not take your check, but
will give you all that you can get
above certain figure for those tide
lands"
"What's your figure?''
Mr.. Penny named a price much
higher than he had named when
promising Ballaine his option. Bal
laine promptly refused, and again de-
manded the promised option.
do you want to ruin me?" de-
manded Mr.. Penny, in well-assumed
alarm.
"a moment ago." said Ballaine,
''you declared that I could not sell.
Now you are afraid I can. Your
change of sentiment is compliment,
SIR" and the young man bowed.
Mr.. Penny thought it over for
moment, and then assured himself
that the Great Northern wouldn't
buy, even at the low price he had
named, because that coveted strip
was still in the way. He did not
know that Ballaine had telegram of
acceptance from a certain railroad
magnate in St. Paul, and he smiled as
he handed Ballaine the written OPP
ton.
"After that option has EXPIRED"
said Mr.. Penny, you can frame it
and hang it in your office. Keep your
check; you will need it."
Ballaine raced back to his office,
and then, with his options and GER
tain abstracts of title, went to the
general western agent of the Great
Northern, at his Office in Seattle. The
| o~o,,% no cow tho M.