Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-11-06

certa1ned Mr.. Ambiguous Lon
don address and wrote asking
- for an appointment the follow 4
ing evening.
He also interviewed the manager.
81 want the help Of a thoroughly re-
liable solicitor" he said. 81 wish to
purchase some propery-not valuable
property, but of Importance to me.
Can you give me the address Of some
one known to your"
NJ. Foret named reputable firm in
the locality.
They may refer to you" added
Philip. "Of course / do not ask you to
say more than that am staying here,
but the point is I do not wish you to
mention my age
will you not see them. then?"
NO. l will cndeavor to conduct the
whole business by post"
The manager laughed.
You certainly are the coolest young
gentleman l ever met. However, Mr..
Arson, 1t may please you to know that
your bank gave you the best Of rec
concentrations. l will say so to any
body"
So Philip first drafted and then
copied the following letter:
Dear Sirs-M Foret of this hotel, has
given me your names as firm likely to
transact certain negotiations for me. 1
want to purchase a small property in the
Mile End road, known as Johnson's
News, also a shop near the entrance TO
the news. tenanted by n marine store
dealer named O'Brien The news is owned
by the Cardiff and Havre Coal COM
psny. limited. l do not know who owns
the shop. I wish to acquire these prop
critics for philanthropic purpose but l
am most DESTROYS that my name should
not figure In the transaction. l propose.
therefore. when you have ascertained the
price, which should be at the earliest
possible moment to pey TO your credit the
requisite amount You can have the
properties transferred 10 any nominee
You choose and again transferred to ma
kindly add your costs. etc. to the pur-
chase price. My movements are some
what uncertain. so please send all COM
munications by letter. Ii will be an obli-
CATION and lead to future business If you
attend to this matter tomorrow morning.
Yours faithfully, PHILIP ANSON.
He did not compose this letter with
out considerable trouble The '.philan-
thropic purpose he had already decid-
ed upon, but he thought it was rather
clever to refer to the possibilities of
future business"
AS for the double transfer. lie dis
tinctly remembered copying letters
dealing with several such transactions
at the time of the coal company's con-
version into n limited liability con
Germ.
He was early to bed, and his rest
was not disturbed by dreams. He rose
long before the ordinary residents.
Deferring his breakfast, he walked to
Fleet street and purchased copies of
morning and evening papers for the
whole of the week.
He could thus enjoy the rare luxury
of seeing himself as others saw him.
He read the perferyid descriptions OF
the scene in court and found himself
varlously described as pert" mas
terful," ''imperious,' highly intelli-
gent" endowed with a thin veneer OF
education" and affected
Philip could afford to laugh at the
unfavolable epithets. Upto the age Of
thirteen he had been trained III Il first
rate lycee, and his work was supervis-
vi ny LAC NoALsth VI WAY SiSoS
culture He spoke French as we'll as
English and spoke both admirably. He
knew some Greek and Latin, was well
advanced in arithmetic and had a spe-
cial penchant for history and geog-
raphy.
1t was in the glowing articles which
appeared during his Imprisonment that
he took the kecnest interest. Oddly
enough, one ingenious correspondent
Numbered on to a clew. Gifted With all
analytical mind he had reasoned that
the diamond laden meteor fell during
the extraordinary storm of the 10Th,
and the meteorological department in
Victoria street helped him by dcscriD-
Ing the center of the disturbance as
situated somewhat to the east OF the
London hospital.
The writer had actually interviewed
member of the staff of that mstitu-
ton who amused himself by noting
barometrical vagaries. His instrument
recorded an extraordinary increase of
pressure soon after 10 o'clock on the
night Of the storm.
"Alas," said the scribe, at did not in
dictate where the meteor fell, and not Il
policeman, bus driver or railway Off
cial can be found who observed any
thing beyond Il phenomenal electrical
display and violent downpour of
rain.''
That was too close TO be pleasant,
and Philip was glad to hear from NJ.
Foret that the solicitors after telepilon-
ing to ask for some particulars concern
Ing Mr.. Arson were giving prompt at
tention to his instructions.
What did You tell them:" asked
Philip.
Il said that YOU impressed me as the
kind of young gentleman who would
pay well for services given msparins-
ly."
Did that satisfy them:'
Perfectly. Such clients do not
abound in these hard times"
Three hours later Il letter came for
Philip Arson. Esd by hand 1t was
from the solicitors and read:
We are in receipt of your esteemed in
structions. Although Saturday is {. day
on which 1t Is difficult to do business We
lost no time In inspecting the premises in
the Mile End road. accompanied by q
surveyor. We found that the news stand
approximately on an area of 3.2oo super
ficial feet, while the shop tenanted by
O'Brien has q frontage on the main road
OF eighteen feet. with a probable depth
of thirty or thirty-tive feet. The owner
of this shop Is resident in the neigh
borhood, and he will accept $3.50 for the
freehold.
We were fortunate In finding the man
aging director OF the Cardiff and Ilavra
Coal company. limited. at his Office AL
though The company require the news
for the purpose of u depot, they are not
unwilling to sell, with a stipulation that
the premises shall not be used by any
competing company during period of
twenty years from the date OF transfer.
We stated that the cite was required fo!
philanthropic purpose, but the latter
stipulation Is insisted on The price asked
is e2.200. which we consider excessive.
there being a very Inadequate approach.
Moreover. we wish to point ont that
O'Brien's shop does not adjoin the news.
and 1t would be necessary to purchase
two other houses to make the entire
property q compact one.
However. adhering 10 the letter of your
Instructions. we have pleasure in Inform
ing you that the two properties can be