The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-08-20

thing has to be DONE"
1T may cost you few years of the
hardest work you ever bucked down
to-" said Miller, land some sleepless
nights, but l really believe you have
fallen on to better thing than any
l ever struck. l could make it whiz.
I've already done something that will
astonish you. happen to know Slight
~ Tillman Wilson, the president of the
Southern Land and Timber company.
Their offices are in Atlanta I knew
he was my man to tackle, so when l
got to Atlanta Yesterday l ran UPON
him just as if it were accidental. I
invited him to lunch with me at the
Capitol City club; you know I'm a
nonresident member. You see, knew
if put myself in the light of a man
with something to sell, he'd hurry
away from me, but l didn't. AS a
pretext 1 told him l had some clients
up here who wanted to raise a consid-
cradle amount of money and that the
security offered was fine timber land
You see that caught him; he was on
his own ground. I saw that he was
interested, and doomed the property
to the skies.
"The more l talked the more he was
interested, till it was bubbling out all
over him. He's New Highlander, who
thinks country lawyer without a
Harvard education belongs to an effete
civilization, and l let him think he
was pumping me. l even left off my
g's and ignored my RS let him think
he had struck the softest thing Of his
life. Pretty soon he begun to want to
know if you cared to sell, but skirted
that indifferently, as if I had no inter-
est whatever in it. I told him your IA
Their had bought the property to hold
for an advance; that he had spent
years of his life picking out the rich
est timber spots and buying them up.
Then he came right out, as hoped he
would, and asked me the amount you
wanted to borrow on the property. I
had to speak quick, and, remembering
that you had said the old gentleman
had put in about $4,000 first and last,
l put the amount at $4,000. l was
taking liberty, but 1 can easily get
you out Of it if you decide not to do it,"
TWENTY-FIVE thousand! On that
land" Alan cried. ut would tickle
my father to death to sell it for that
Il can arrange the papers so that you
are not liable for any security outside
of the land, and it would practically
amount to sale if you wished it, but
you don't wish it. l finally told him
that l had an idea that you would sell
out for an even hundred thousand"
"a hundred thousand" repeated AL
an, with CHEEKY laugh. Eyes, we'd
let go at that"
"Well the figures didn't scare him a
bit, for he finally came right out and
asked me if it was my opinion that in
case his company made the loan you
would agree to give him the refusal of
the land at 100000 told him I
didn't know, that thought it possible,
but that just then l had no interest in
the matter beyond borrowing a little
money on 1t. He asked me how long
was going to stay in Atlanta. I told
him l was going to a bank and take
the night train back. The banks will
stick YOU for a high rate of interest,"
he said jealousy. They don't do bust
ness for fun, while really our concern
happens just now to have some idle
capital on hand. Do you think YOU
could beat 5 per cent? I admitted that
it was low enough. but got up as if I
was suddenly reminded that the banks
close early in the afternoon, I think
we can make the loan.' he said, but I
must first see two or three. of the d.
rectors. Can't you give me two hours?
finally gave in and promised to meet
him at the Kimball House at 4. went
to matinee, saw it half over and went
in at the ladies' entrance of the hotel.
l saw him looking about for me and
lodged him.
"Dodged him." echoed Alan. "Why''-
Miller laughed. you don't suppose
Ia let big fish like that see me firt-
ing my hook and pole about in open
sunlight, do you? I saw by his man.
ner that he was anxious to meet me,
and that was enough. Besides, you
can't close deal like that in a minute,
and there are many slips. l went back
to the club and threw myself on a
lounge and began to smoke and read
an afternoon paper. Presently he came
in cab. I heard him asking for me in
the hall and buried my head in the
paper. He came in to me. and rose
and looked stupid. I can do it when
try, if it is something God has failed
at, and began to apologize
"He didn't seem to care. If it had
been deal Of your own,' he said, with
q laugh, you'd have been more
prompt and I managed to look guilty.
Then he sat down.
"'Our directors are interested,' he
said confidentially. The truth is, there
is not another concern in America that
can handle property as cheaply as we
can. We happen to have railroad
about that length up in east Tennessee
that has played out, and you see we
could move it to where it would do
some good
L.