The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-08-13

having anything else to do, l made it
my business to ride over every foot of
my fathers big investment, and, to tell
you the truth, I've come to you with
huge idea. Don't laugh. can't help it.
1t popped into my head and sticks,
that's ALL
Good! Let me have it,
Before l tell you what it u.s." said
Alan, Il want you to promise not to
ridicule me. I'm as green as gourd in
business matters. But the idea has
hold of me- and don't know that even
your disapproval will make me let it
loose"
''That's good way to put it, laugh
ed Miller. 1.-The idea has hold of you,
and you can't let it loose. 1t applies
more closely to investments than any,
thing else. Once get into a deal and
you are afraid to let it go, like the chap
that held the calf and called for help"
"Well, here it u.s." said Alan. 1--WE
made up my mind that railroad can
and shall be built from these two main
lines to my fathers lumber bonanza"
Miller whistled. A broad smile in
quilted the quicker of his lips, and then
his face dropped into seriousness A
look almost of pity for his friends Gre
dulity and inexperience came into his
| eyes.
II must say you don't want a little
thing, my boy," he said indulgently.
Remember you are talking to fell
low that has rubbed up against the
moneyed world considerably for chap
raised in the country. The trouble
with you, Alan, is that you have got
| heredity to contend with; you are a
chip off the old block in spite of your
belonging to a later generation. You
have inherited your fathers big ideas.
You are a sort Of Colonel Sellers, who
sees millions in everything you look att
Alans face fell, but there remained
| IN 1t tenacious expression that WOD
Mlller's admiration even while he de-
plored 1t. There was, too, a ring of
| confidence in the young farmers ton.
| when he replied:
How much would a railroad through
that country, eighteen miles in length.
| cost?"
Nothing but survey by an expert
could answer that even approximate
~" said the lawyer, leaning back in
his creaking chair. eff you had the
right of way, charter from the state
and no big tunnels to make nor long
| bridges to Juild, you might, l should
| say, construct the road alone-without
locomotives and rolling stock generally
| for little matter of one hundred and
| hfty thousand. I don't know; I'm only
guessing; but it wouldn't fall under
| that estimate
| Il didn't think it WOULD replied
Alan, growing more enthusiastic "Now
| then, If there was railroad to nv ia
theirs property, how much would his
10000 acres be worth?'
| Miller smiled again and began to
figure on a scrap of paper with a pen
Gil. "Oh, as for that" he said ct
would really be Notwithstanding uncut,
unsawed, including a world of ia
bark-at least $25 an acre-say a clear
half million for it all. Oh, 1 know it
LOOKS as PLAIN as your nose on your
face; things always do on paper. 1t
looks big and it shines; so does SD:
der web in the sunshine to a fly; but
you don't want to be a fly, my boy,
| and you don't want any spider webs
on the brain anyway"
Alan stood up and walked to the
| door and back. Finally he shrugged
his broad shoulders. 81 don't care
what you say" he declared, bringing
his hand down firmly on Miller's desk.
1T will pay, as sure as I'm alive.
There's no getting around the facts. 1t
will take quarter of million invest
ment to market a half million dollar
bunch Of timber, with the land thrown