The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1905-02-08

Interested, till it was bubbling out all
over him. He's New Nnglandcr, who
thinks country lawyer without
Harvard education belongs to an effete
civilization, and I let him think he
was pumping me. 1 even left or my
g's and ignored my rs. I 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 had no inter-
est whatever IN 1t. l told him your fa-
ther 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.
TheA ha came right out, rs hoped he
wou nd asked me the amount you
wants 10 borrow OH the property.
had to Hf&cTk quick, and, remembering
that you had said the old gentleman
had put in about $4,000 first and last,
I put the amount ut $25,000. was
taking liberty, but can easily get
you out Of 1t If you decide not to do It,"
TWENTY-FIVE thousand! On that
land?" Alan cried. "It would tickle
my father to death t : sell it for that"
are not liable for any security outside
of the land and it would practically
amount to a sale If you wished 1t, but
you don't wish it. l finally told him
that had an idcn that you would sell
out for IN even hundred thousand"
"a hundred thousandw repeated AL
an, with q CHEEKY laugh. Eyes, we'd
let go at that"
"Well, the figures didn't scare him q
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. I told him l
didn't know, that 1 thought it possible,
but that just then I had no interest in
the matter beyond borrowing a little
money OH 1t. He asked ME how long
I was going to stay in Atlanta told
him 1 was going to a bank and take
the night train back The banks will
stick you for q high rate Of interest,"
he said jcalously. They don't do busi-
ness for fun, while really our concern
happens just now 10 have some idle
capital on hand. Do you think YOU
could beat 5 per cent? I admitted that
- 1t was low enough, but got up as If
was suddenly reminded that the banks
close early in the afternoon. Il think
we can make the loan,' he said, but l
must first see two OF three Of the d.
rectors. Can't you give me two hoursY
finally gave in and promised to meet
him at the Kimball House at 4. went
to a matinee, saw 1t half over and went
in at the ladies' entrance of the hotel.
saw him looking about for me and
lodged him."
"Dodged h!m|' echoed Alan. "Why''-
Miller laughed. "You don't suppose
ia let big fish like that see me tlirt-
Ing my hook and pole about in open
sunlight, do you? l saw by his man
ner that he was anxious to meet nc,
and that was enough. Besides, you
can't close a 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 l can do it when
try, If 1t 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
laugh, you'd have been more
prompt and managed to look guilty.
Then he sat down.
"'Our directors are intcrcstcd,' he
said confidehtially. The truth is, there
Is not another concern in America that
can handle property as cheaply hs 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 1t would do
some good
"As soon as he told me that knew
he was our meat. Besides, saw trade
in his eye rs big as an arc light. To
make long tale short, he Is coming
up here tonight, and il your father is
willing to accept the loan he can get
the money, giving only the land as Sc
curlty-provilcd we don't slip up.
Here's the only thing I'm afraid Of
When Wilson gets here, h" may get to
making Inquiries around 2Ad drop on
to the report that your rAthQE is dis
gusted with his investment. and smell
mouse and pull Off. What | want to
dO Is to get at him the first thing aftcl
breakfast In the morning, so you'd bet
ter bring your father and mother IL,
early. If we once get Wilson's twenty.
five thousand into it, we can eventual
ly sell out. The main thing is the loan
Don't you think so?'
II certainly do" said Alan. "Oi
course a good many things might in
terfere. Wed have to get right OF
way and n charter before the roat
could he built, and reckon they won
Duy TIL they are sure Of those things"
NO; 1t may take long time and {
lot OF patience" said Miller, "but youl
father could afford to wait if he On,
"Itcentv.lDc MouSandl On that lamar,
get his money back by means Of tb,
loan. tell you that's the main tbino
If had offered to sell Wilson IN,
whole thing at $4,000 lie never woult
have come up here, but lie Is sure nov
that the property is just what he il
z looking for. Oh, we are not certain O
him by long jump! 1t all depends
on whether lie Will insist on going oyds
there or not. If lie does, those moss
backs Will bust, the thing wide optp
II he comes straight to, my oHicNSii
the>morning, the deal e y be closed
aN.u. "a . =