Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-11-12

DralSnsore.
Ruthven, George Fame. Sanxon Orchil |
the Hon. r-Carnes-that crowd |
rich and stingy. That's why they
are contented with yearly agreement
with the farmers instead of buying the
1000 acres. Why put a lot of good
money out of commission when they
can draw interest on it and toss an in
significant fraction of that interest as
sop to the farmers? Do you see?
That's your millionaire method, and
it's what makes 'em in the first place."
He drew a large. fancy handkerchief
from his pistol pocket and wiped the
beads from the bridge Of his timber
nose. But they reappeared again.
"Now," he said, Il am satisfied that,
working very carefully. we can secure
| options on every acre of the four thou
| sand. There is money in it either
way and any way we work it. We
get it coming and going. First Of all,
| if the Siowitha people find that they
really cannot get on without controlling
these acres. why''-and he snickered
SO that his nose curved into a thin.
ruddy beak-"why. captain. l suppose
we could let them have the land. Eth?
oh, yes. If they must have it!'
Selwyn frowned slightly.
But the point is" continued Neer-
gard, that it borders the railroad on
| the north, and where the land is not
wavy it's fiat as pancake, and'-he
sank his husky voice-'.its fairly rid
died with water. l paid thousand
dollars for six tests"
Water repeated Selwyn wonder
ingly. why it's dry as desert!"
Underground water-only about for
ty feet on the average. Why. man,
can hit a well flowing 5000 gallons
almost anywhere. It's a gold mine.
: don't care what you do with the
Acreage-split it up into lots and adj
vertise or club the Siowitha people into
submission. it's all the same; it's gold
mine, to be swiped and developed.
Now, there remain the title searching
and the job of financing 1t. because
we've got to move cautiously and
knock softly at the doors of the money
vaults, or well be waking up some
Wall street relatives or secret bust
ness associates of the yellow crowd.
and if anybody bawls for help Wen be
up in the air next New Years and
still hiking skyward"
He stood up, gathering together the
mail matter which his secretary had
already opened for his attention.
"There's plenty of time yet Their
leases were renewed the first of this
year, and they'll run the year out.
But it's something to think about.
VIII you talk to Gerald, or shall II"
"You," said Selwyn. "I'll think the
matter over and give you my opinion.
May I speak to my brother-in-law
about it?''
Neergard turned in his tracks and
looked almost at him.
do you think there's any chance OF
his financing the thing?"
II haven't the slightest idea Of wha,
he might do. especially"-he hesitated-
"as you never have had any loans
from his people, understand"
mo" said Neergard, II haven't"
"Its rather out of their usual, be
lieve."
$50 they say. But Long Island acre
age needn't beg favors now. That's
all over, Captain Selwyn. Fame, Har
mon & Co. know that Mr.. Gerard
ought to know it too"
Selwyn looked troubled. "Shall
consult Mr.. Gerard" he repeated. 81
should like to If you have no objec
ton"
Neergard's small, close set eyes were
focused on spot just beyond Sci
wyn's left shoulder.
Suppose you sound him." he sug
gested, 'in strictest"-
Naturally" cut In Selwyn dryly
and, turning to his Uttered desk, open
;, ed the first letter his hand encounter
ed. Now that his head was turned
Neergard looked full at the back Of
:. his neck for long minute, then wen
= out silently.
l.. That night Selwyn stopped at his
: sisters house before going to his owl
I rooms and, finding Austin alone in the
library, laid the matter before hin
exactly as Neergard had put 1t.
"You see." he added, that I'm 9
,, sort Of ass about business methods
{ This furtive bouncing on a thing and
d clubbing other peoples money out OF
them with it-this slyly acquiring land
q that is necessary to an unsuspectins
d neighbor and then holding him up
don't like. There's always somethins
OF this sort that prevents my cordia
g cooperation with Neergard-alway.
e something in the schemes which hint,
q of-of squeezing-of something under
n ground"
d Like the water which he's going {,
: squeeze out Of the WELSH