Putnam patriot., 1908-04-17

"o lhe sHsllAfie4lS ttNeDtnFef ihA
 first action of his hasI W3jS
 most peculiar far without eX-
 planatiau he closed and care fully locked the doar. Richards an prehensiens were relieved. however. when Mir RenwYck produced ii lss cantef and cigars. lighted his own per. feete aud then lay back i'll his deep leather chair and laughed til the tears ran down his face The mystitied Tex iii smoked on in polite silence. pa- tently waiting for some explanation of the old man's hamor He could wait quietly. since il was evident from Mir RenwYek's exuherant joy that Richard had nothing personally to fear that his secret WIS still his own. After time lis host wiped his eyes with his handkerchief and apalogized for his meriment
 Forgive me. Lord Croylana,s he begged but. to tell you the truth. just cant help 1t Affairs in Tex as are not eulY dtifiing my way. but the whole situation has become intense. Iy humorous. Why, fl is a regular play. old RHl Williams represents tragedy. my company will shortly sup ply melodrama, while a third corpora ton has appeared OH the stage and is furnishing both sides with comedy Let me explain"
 Do so. beg you" murmured Rich ard. striving not to look as uncom. fortahle as he always felt when this Texas business came up. The finan- cier laughed again and proceeded:
 "As I told you before. Bill Williams company is working for deep water harbor at Matagarda City, while my company is equally anxious to operate at Iongmatt Very well. New. listen I learned today that new corpora tion was organized last month nnder the laws of the state of New Jersey which styles itself the Peace and Good Will Realty company. Think or IT, The very name will kill 1t iB its teeth ing stage"
 .Nho are back of this corperati"n9 ' asked Richard. greatly interested ih this new development.
 "i don't know They are probably so ashamed of themselves that tbelr names are kept secret" laughed Mir Renwyek.
 But | thought the ineorporaters.-
 dummies, like my own company. only ill this case all of them are real dummies in fact as well as in theory"
 ..I see.
 "It develops that the promoters Of this company. whoever they may be. have gone down to Texas and invested their capital in the states largest and most generous product"
 And what is thatT asked Richard in some surprise.
 ..Hot air" returned Mir. Renwyck In n paroxysm of mirfb. Ifs cheap, but they seem to want it.'
 T don't quite understand
 q will enlighten you They have ministerial looking representative of the name of Fk.hsiil. whose Innocence can only be described as infantile This precious old lamb called upon firm Of promoters. Hifi X Eaton. who in strict confidence-happen to be my agents. and asked their advice ~itn re- gard to location for deep water barbor on the Texas gulf coast tiieS intend 10 construct with the assistanee of Il hoted for legislative appropria- tion.- Once more Mir. Renwyck was SO overcome by amusement that ne was forced to pause in his story Now. my conpany-I myself. you under stand:" he began at length.
 .Of course said Richard. lowing
 has been saddled for q long time with an utterly worthless tract Of iand along the gnlf-a miserable. sun baked little hole rejoicing in the name or oiixia which lies midway isfween Mafasoria City and I.ongmatt, by the war. Through HiIl X Eaton we ad- vised Brother FishcalI 10 buy this tract. whieh--bless my soui-be dfd al once and at our own pricef
 The amused sIeeuIatcr glanced al Richard and. mistakiug his gloom Tor a ntsegnaaiie British lack Of hlmor- went on.
 -It seems also that thereafter the Peace and Go.d VIII Realty com