The Tomahawk., 1903-10-16
on"-he snatched Eiss-"a purely
business matter, darling"

which boasted no more than one room,
and that barely large enough to swing
a cat, MedWay 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 MIR.
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 Fit
lingham and Foxbrook to be afield,
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 over an imaginary task.
His look of absent-minded industry
as he glanced up at the entry OF the
two was worthy Of q skilled actor; but
rising after 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.
eve shall not detain you long, Mr..
Medway," rejoined the financier, de-
clining them somewhat distantly.
"Just 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 100000. Is
that SOP"
"You have been rightly informed"
replied Medway. # 6
"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 as building site"
Precisely" said Medway.
1--WE presume" proceeded Mr.. Fill
lingham, that you do not contemplate
buying the estate yourself, Mr.. Med
way, and that you have secured the op-
ton from speculative point of view.
In short, we are disposed to purchase
for 100000, allowing you a fair per-
centage of commission" ,~'
Il fear not" smiled Midway, bland
ly "Your surmise that do not con-
template buying myself is entirely un-
founded. I shall probably do so. Per-
haps you are not aware, gentlemen,
that the new line to Darnley win skirt
the whole length of the estate, consid-
erably increasing it's value. I should
have no difficulty in raising a G20,-
900 mortgage on the security of the
estate alone, and I dare say Steinway
or Goldthorpe would be glad to snap it
up for 100000 or 940,O00."
"N-nonsense!' stammered Mr.. Fill
lingham, weakly, with blank glance
at Foxbrook. Forty thousand? Pre-
posterous, Mr.: Medway!"
81 have it on good authority" re-
piled Medway, coolly, chat the estate
if carefully developed will be worth
100000"
Foxbrook laughed at Mr.. Filling
hams face even amidst his dismay.
"You have stolen march on u.s.
Medway," 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, Mr.. Fox
brook" smiled Midway.
"And that?' demanded both men
quickly.
"Can 1 rely on you to keep secret,
Mr. Foxbrook?" asked MedWay.
Decidedly" replied Foxbrook.
'Still, it is a purely business mat
ter" observed Medway. 'Ten thou
sand pounds down for my option,
seat on the board of your syndicate
with enough shares to entitle me to
that position, and the estate is yours
on one other condition"
''Name it," cried Fillingham.
''That you give your consent to the
marriage of Phyllis and myself"
"Bravo!" laughed Foxbrook, hearth
+ 1y. "a fair offer. You consent, Fill
lingham, of course"
Mr.. Fillingham 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
81 find, indeed, my DEAR" he ex->
planned, "that Mr.. Medway, 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, l have no
further objection to your immediate
marriage. .''-Cassell's Saturday Jour-
nal.
Roman Bricks.
The rebuilding of the campanile, in