The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-10-09
but keenest and closest amongst them
wa Mr.. Fillingham himself.

1t was during the lengthy discu!
sion after dinner over their wine an
cigars of these birds of a feather thu
Phyllis was to forsake the paterns
nest and take that flight which shout
make or mar her future Happiness,
Midway himself, entering by a sid
door of the conservatory, was to NEE
her and lead the way to the waitin
carriage.
The details had been CAREFUL
planned and, adhering closely t o thes
arrangements, Midway found himsel
in the conservatory at eight o'clock o,
the evening of the dinner. Five min
utes later, approaching with a quick
soft tread in the semi-darkness, cam
Phyllis, true to her tryst.
Springing forward, Midway claspe,
| her hands in his.
Darling" he whispered, joyfully
Then, amidst his elation and the trem
bling fears of Phyllis, they drew sharp
" up. Ahead from a side doorway
leading to the main passage of the
conservatory, down which they mus
pass to escape, came Mr.. dillingham;
voice.
This way, Foxbrook." they heard
him say. I'VE shall be undisturbed
here"
Still holding Phyllis hands, Midway
drew her swiftly and silently beneath
the v of some thick palms and
shrubs which bordered the passage,
and he had barely done so when Mr..
Fillingham and Foxbrook, a co-di-
rector, and the vice chairman of Mr..
Fillingham's great land syndicate, took
their seat on a low iron bench not
three yards away.
what is the news, F~oxbrook?!"
asked MI. %Fillingham, eagerly.
Rather important to you," declared
Foxbrook in his cool, deliberate way;
Indeed to all of us in the syndicate.
l have just learnt from Bencher that
the new loop line will to a certainty
go through Darnley and tap the full
length of the Irwell Hall estate. He
advises me, too, that We have no time
to waste if the deal is to be worked,
and we must buy the Irwell people up
without an hours delay"
Decidedly" declared Mr.. Filling
ham. did you call on MULTI and
the agents?"
II did," replied F%oxbrook, slowly.
And informed them we were disposed
treat for the estate if it were cheap.
But we are too late"
TOO late!" cried Mr.. Fillingham.
That bland fool old MULTI, who
evidently knows nothing yet" rejoined
F%oxbrook, Informed me they would
have been glad to treat with the syn
but they had granted an option
Of purchase to a person who hoped to
ind a buyer within the present month,
provided his efforts were guaranteed
~ the option of the acceptance or re-
usal of the estate for 100000 up to
he 3Oth."
An angry exclamation came from
dr. Fillingham, and in the darkness
dedway gripped Phyllis hand tighter.
Good heavens" cried the financier.
Why the estate has gone a-begging
or months, and must be trebled in
alue if Bencher is right. Who is the
IAN? Can he have got wind of the
THAT remains to be seen" declared
'oxbrook. you know him pretty
1t is young Midway, who was
onnected with us in that small at
air."
Midway" gasped Mr.. Fillingham.
Your Midway" declared Foxbrook,
lalf satirically, who was after your
laughter. l could never understand
Why you threw such a promising Young
elbow over
And you say he has the option to
purchase for 100000 within the
month" asked Mr.. dillingham;,
Why, the estate is worth $50, 900 of
my mans money if Bencher's infor-
nation proves reliable"
More" rejoi,Ad Foxbrook, calmly.
And Bencher is beyond doubt"
We'll, we must see Midway" as
serted Mr.. Fillingham.
Foxbrook laughed quietly.
After kicking him out??" he in
luired. facetiousg..
This thing is, of course, a purely
business matter" replied Mr.. Filling
ham. "And from what | know of Med
way he will treat it as such. He is
poor enough. 1t is more than probable
that he knows nothing OF the real
state of affairs and is just dabbling to
max a small commission. We must
see him at c before he gets wind
OF its real value. Though, of course.
is without money to buy himself"
"Pish!" said Foxbrook, contemptu-
ously, "he will have a dozen offers
within the week unless we secure him
before the rush-Steinway, G%oldthorpe,
and a score of others will
anxious to snap it up when the news
known. Bencher gives us only three
or four days before the cat is out of
the bag. But l have my doubts of
young Midway. 1t seems odd he
should have got control of the estate
at this juncture. We must gel in
touch with him at once. Not a min