The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-03-07


O creature Internal while The speed
Ing trains make the LEGS of tho octo-
pus culver as with llfc and movement
The room I'm which He and She find
themselves Is furnished IN the costll-
est manner The mantelpiece IS eyoul-
sltely carved marble. supported upon
columns Of onyx The electroliers are
golden The furniture is carved mas
~ rosewood upholstered with rich vel
vet The "a splttoons on the floor ap-
pear to be bowls cut out Of solid gold.
and the heavy silk rugs are from tho
royal looms of Persia.
She-Ask them $4,000. and do not
take a cent less, if they want our prop
erty.
He (unconsciously abasing himself
by surrcndering to her shrewd guild
once)-Would you? Perhaps we might
not get so much. We only paid 81 900,
you know. But, Martha, / almost feel
as you do This is a palace. These
people would not be scared if l asked
$4,000, would they?
She-Fifty, sure; may be more, but
never a cent less.
A door leading into the room opens.
and-enter four gentlemen. They are
not especially portly. They wear no
Jewels, and their raiment is not noisy.
But they bring with them an atmos-
phere of great worldly solidity, of lux
ury and confidence, and peace of mind
Though their dress Is sober. it is made
Of the softast cloths, and fits them as
maidenly modesty fits a girl child's
face. They are white-haired, yet rosy
faced. They eat and drink the best.
Their shoes carry them with a stately.
proud gait and sink deep in the noise
less pile upon The floor.
He sees nothing Of all this. She sees
and feels it completely He is won
dering whether he dares to ask $4,000
for his $1,000 place. She feels that for
the first time in her life she is in the
very presence of some Of the fabulous
fortunes Of which she had read SO
much.
Remember that though I am writing
this great comedy in dramatic form it
is a true story of what really happened
at the close of last winter l had the
facts from a very sober man of great
affairs in Wall street-a man who
knows and has accomplished whatever
he wishes. II I told his name no
American would question a word of
the story. l am sorry l have not per-
mission to add to his story the con-
yincing hall mark of his identity.
The spokesman Of the quartet of
great millionaires speaks:
The Spokesman-You are Mr.. ,
1 presume? And l think we have also
the pleasure of meeting your wife, Mrs.
-"
He-Yes, I am the man you sent for
to come here.
The Spokesman--We1i, Mr.. -,
do not see why we should beat about
the bush. We have been buying land
here and there in the neighborhood of
your little place and have taken
fancy to your piece of ground. We
would like to make YOU an offer for it.
At this point the wife reaches over
and plucks at her husbands coat
sleeve He has been about to reply
by asking the sum he and she had
agreed upon as their price. But she
pulls his sleeve so hard that he pauses
and leans toward her She whispers
something in his ear.
He shakes his head as if her remark
was foolish interruption. He pulls
away from her and clears his throat
to speak.
Again she plucks at his sleeve. Her
face is strained with excitement and
anxiety, her eyes shine with eager
ness and earnestness. He pulls himself
farther away ana she says out loud:
She-Yes; yes; tell you, yes.
He-Oh, you are crazy.
The Spokesman-May we hear from
you, sir, what price you set upon your
little place?
She (whispering)-Henry, do as l
say. tell you l am right.
He (disdaining even to look at herr
Well, gentlemen, the truth is l am not
particularly anxious to sell. We bought
that little place to end our days in.
OF course if money were made an OBJ
ject to me, I would part with it, but
l would not take less than"
She-Gentlemen, will you excuse us
a minute? l want to take my husband
aside. l want to go into another room
and say something to him privately.
The Spollesman-Why certainly,
madam; you can go into that room
(points to door. We are in no hur-
ry and if we buy we want all hands
to be satisfied.