Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-11
me man seemed. disappointed.

y
neighbor of yours was down yester-
day afternoon and acted very mys-
teriously. He had some specimens
which he showed TO a few people In
the postoffice. but slipped into his
pocket when he saw me coming.
suspect he was trying to raise capital
"Wel?"
h 81 made inquiries, Of course. secret
a little, land I've kept him under
watch all the time. The specimens
came from your old pasture. The
chances are there's nothing in 1t. but
1 am always ready to invest money in
long risks. VIII you sell?"
For a thousand. no."
1.-TWO thousand?" eagerly.
mo"
."Three?"
At an imperative sign from Ella.
Mrs. Kane again shook her head.
II don't believe the lot is worth one
tenth that money" she answered. "bu:
1 am not quite ready TO sell yet. Mr..
PILL
Lawyer Pill shuffied his feet few
moments. then turned away.
ITS all III give' he said souriy.
land you are making the mistake OF
your lives"
The next morning before they had
finished breakfast be was again at the
door, visibly excited.
THAT Archie Booth has been send
ing specimens away to an assay Of
fee" he began hurriedly. Has he
been hereT"
NO"
"weIl. he's up to some sharp prac-
| tice; mark my words on that. IL he'd
meant fair he would have come
| straight TO you and talked the thing
over. I've had him watched all the
time, and everything he's done has
| been sly and full Of mystery. If 1t
we're any other man / wouldn't turn
nv head. BUT Archie Booth is an ex-
pert and don't dodge about like this
| for nothing I'll take chances and give
you $4,000 for the lot"
They both gasped. then Ella shook
her head.
Twenty thousand?"
The gate clicked. and boy ran up
| the path with a note. Lawyer Pill
watched Ella anxiously while she read
| it.
From Booth - he asked.
YES"
Make an ofer?"
Mo- .,-
"WeIl, he will be here soon and try
| to wheedle you out of the land. /
know these mysterious fellows. pre-
fer to be open and pay full value. I'll
! give you $4,000 for the five acres"
Ella looked at her mother and nod
| ded slightly.
Yes, we will accept it." said Mrs.
Kane. but / warn you the place isn't
worth thousand"
"I1l risk that with alacrity. Now.
! let US step inside and fix up the pa
! pers at once. and will make you out
! a check"
AS lie went buoyantly down the path
| a half hour later Mrs. Kane turned to
Ella.
Whist was that note?' she asked.
Ella opened it and read: --.
Run Lawyer Pill up to twenty-five
! thousand or so. then sell. / don't think
/ I'd better call now, for people around
here-and especially PilI-don't know
/ that I'm a friend of the family. I'll
| be down again in a few days and make
a long visit. There is a ledge OF pref
| ty good building granite on the land.
and if Pill will wait little for q de-
mnnd and will put some money in to
develop it and manage the thing
shrewdly. as he knows how, l think
perhaps he can get his money back.
Anyhow, i understand he got lot of
money out Of your father long time
ago by sharp practice, and this will
sort Of square things up"
The dear boy murmured Ella as
she refolded the note and slipped it
into her dress.
When Archie came he received quite
a different reception from that which
he would have received after the re-
ceipt Of bis first letter. He was de-
lighted with the success his friends
had had in getting rid OF property that
turned out in the end to be Of very
little value Ella confessed with con
triton that she had thought very hard
ly of him that he had failed to COM
! ply with her request and acknowl-
edged that she had done him a great
| injustice. She repaid him for what
he had done for her mother and her by
setting day for the wedding.
AS the births of living Great lures at
first are i'll shapen. so are all innova-