The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-10-09
on"-he snatched a kiss-"a purely
business matter, darling"

IN MS niue ONCE, louT SlOTleo NY,
which boosted no more than one room,
and that barely large enough to swing
a cat, Midway sat the following morn
ing with an appearance of busy pre-
occupation, judging by the books and
papers skillfully Uttered before him,
which might have deceived more OBJ
servant eyes even than those OF Mr..
Fillingham and Foxbrook. Even the
luxury OF an office boy was forbidden
him, and for an hour Midway had sat
alone expectantly biting his pen as he
awaited the couple of financiers.
Ten o'clock had barely struck. how
ever, an early hour for men like Fill
lingham and FoXbrOok to be atield,
when he heard their voices on the
creaking staircase. Bending over his
desk, he applied himself with an ar
dor to the sheet before him that per
haps we may have all assumed at some
time yer an imaginary task.
His look of absent-minded industry
as he glanced up at the entry OF the
two was worthy Of a skilled actor; but
rising after a look Of inquiry, tinged
by just the faintest touch OF politely
assumed surprise at the sight Of Fill
lingham, he offered the only two chairs
the office possessed.
I'VE shall not detain you long, Mr..
Medway,' rejoined the financier. de-
Ginning them somewhat distantly.
Just a trifling business matter on
which Mr.. FoXbrook and myself, as
representatives of the Suburban Land
Investment and Building Syndicate.
find ourselves brought in touch with
you. We learn, in short, from Messrs.
MULTI and Fudge that you have been
granted an option Of purchase Of the
Irwell Hall estate for ego, 600. Is
that so?"
You have been rightly informed"
replied Midway.
The estate, as you are probably
aware" proceeded Mr.. Fillingham,
has been on the market for a consid-
cradle time without a purchaser; but
latterly our syndicate have considered
the matter as to whether by careful
development it might not be made to
pay rs Ii building site
Precisely" said Midway.
I'VE presume" proceeded Mr.. Fill
bingham. that you do not contemplate
buying the estate yourself, Mr.. Med
way, and that you have secured the op-
ton from a speculative point of view.
In short, We are disposed to purchase
for 600 nl0 ollD,r;r~ ,r~, fo;, ,a.
centage of commission"
Il fear not" smiled Midway, bland
ly. your surmise that l do not con-
template buying myself is entirely UNI
founded. l shall probably do so. Per
haps you are not aware, gentlemen,
that the new line to Darnley will skirt
the whole length of the estate, consid-
erably increasing its value. 1 should
have no difficulty in raising a G2O,-
900 mortgage on the security of the
estate alone, and 1 dare say Steinway
or Goldthorpe would be glad to snap it
up for $4,000 or $40, 900"
"N-nonsense!" stammered Mr.. Fill
lingham, weakly. with a blank glance
at Foxbrook. Forty thousand? Pre-
posterous, Fir. Medway!"
Il have it on good authority" re-
piled Midway, coolly, that the estate
if carefully developed will be worth
G6O,O0O."
Foxbrook laughed at Mr.. Filling
hams face even amidst his dismay.
You have stolen q march on us,
Midway" he declared. Though how
you got the news so early Heaven only
knows! l suppose there is no chance
of buying you out? OF course, the es-
tate wants a building capital to be
properly worked. Have you a price,"
There is a price, certainly, MI. Fox
brook" smiled Midway.
'And that?" demanded both men
quickly.
Can rely OF you to keep a secret,
Mr.. Foxbrook?" asked Midway.
Decidedly replied Foxbrook.
"Still, it is a purely business mat
observed Midway. Ten thou
sand pounds down for my option, a
seat on the board of your syndicate
with enough shares to entitle me to
that position, and the estate is yours
one other condition.
Name it," cried Fillingham.
That you give your consent to the
marriage OF Phyllis and myself"
"Bravo!" laughed F%oxbrook, hearth
". "a fair offer. You consent, Fill
bingham, of course"
Mr.. FiIlingham did assent, as
gracefully as lay in his power. Later
in the day, too, he made known the
withdrawal of his objection to the
radiantly happy Phyllis.
Il find, indeed, my DEAR" he ex-
planned, that Mr.. Midway, in an I'M
portant financial matter in which we
have been jointly concerned, has
shown such undoubted business ability
and promise that, in short, | have no
further objection to your immediate
misunderstanding Saturday Jour
nal