The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-04-14

cradle amoUnt OF money and that the
security offered was fine timber land
You see that caught him; he was on
his own ground. l saw that he was
interested. and | doomed the property
to the skies.
Tile more | talked the more he was
interested. till it was bubbling out all
over him. He's Il New Englander who
! thinks country lawyer without q
Harvard education belongs to an effete
civilization. and | let him think he
was pumping me. / even left off my
gs and ignored my RS. l 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 indiffer0 ntly, as If had no inter
est whatever in it. told him your ia
Their 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.
| Then he came right out as hoped he
/ would. and asked me the amount you
wanted to borrow on the property.
had to spe;.-i quick, and, remembering
that you had said the old gentleman
had put in about $4,000 first and last.
put the amount at $4,000. was
taking liberty, but l can easily get
you out of 1t II you decide not to do It,"
twenty-five thousand! On that
landY Alan cried. ''It would tickle
my father to death to sell it for that"
II can arrange the papers so that you
are not liable for any security outside
of the land. and it would practically
amount to sale If you wished it, but
you don't wish 1t. l finally told him
that had an idea that you would sell
out for an even hundred thousand"
"A hundred thousandr repeated Al
an. with CHEEKY laugh. Yes, 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. l told him
didn't know. that thought it possible,
but that just then had no interest in
the matter beyond borrowing a little
money on It, He asked me how long
was going to stay in Atlanta. told
him was going to bank and take
the night train back. The banks will
stick you for a high rate of interest,"
he said jealousy. They don't do bust
ness for fur. while really our concern
happens just now to have some idle
capital on hand. Do you think you
could beat per cent? l admitted that
It was low enough, but got up as If
was suddenly reminded that the banks
close early in the afternoon. L think
we can make the loan.' he said, but |
must first see two or three of the d.
rectors. Can't you give me two hours?
l finally gave in and promised to meet
him at the Kimball House at 4. went
to matinee. saw it half over and went |
In at the ladies' entrance of the hotel
saw him looking about for me and |
lodged him."
"Dodged him p echoed Alan. why
Miller laughed. You don't suppose
I'd let big fish like that see me flirt-
ing my hook and pole about in open
sunlight, do you? l saw by his man
ner that he was anxious to meet me,
and that was enough. Resides, you
can't close deal like that In minute,
and there are many slips. | 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. heard him asking for me in
he hol
paper. He came in to me, and | rose
and looked stupid | can do it when
try. If it is something God has failed
at, and l began to apologize.
"He didn't seem to care. If it had
been deal Of your own he said, with
a laugh. you'd have bee,l more
prompt and managed to look guilty.
Then he sat down.
"'Our directors are interested he
said confidentially. The truth is, there
Is not another concern in America that
can handle property as cheaply as we
can. We happen to have railroad
about that length up in east Tennessee
that has played uut, and you see we
could move 1t to where 1t would do
some good
LAS soon sss he told me that l knew
he was our meat. Besides, / saw trade
II his eye as big as an arc light. To
make long tale short, he is coming
Up here tonight, and if your father is
willing to accept the loan he can get
he money, giving only the land as Sc
we don't slip up.
Here's the only thing I'm afraid of.
When Wilson gets here, he may get to
making inquiries around and drop on
o the report that your father is dis
,usted with his investment, and smell
mouse and pull off. What l want to
10 is to get at him the first thing after
breakfast in the morning, so you'd bet
err bring your father and mother in
arly. If we once get Wilson's twenty
i've thousand into it, we can eventual
y sell out. The main thing is the loan.
Don't you think so?"
II certainly do" said Alan. "Of q
curse a good many things might in :
erfere We'd have to get right of !
way and a charter before the roGd 9