The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1909-12-24


annoyance"
Apparently he had expected them to
snap up his offer, but after the first
incredulous stare Elias face grew
scornful. Even her mother looked sus-
picious.
There is something behind this, Mr..
Pill" said Ella co!dly. What is 1t?
You are not throwing away money!"
The man seemed disappointed.
There is nothing mt all, | assure
you. except that-that-well. an old
neighbor of yours was down yester
day afternoon and acted very mys-
teriously lie had some specimens
which he showed TO few people in
the postoflice. but slipped into his
pocket when he saw me coming. |
suspect he was trying to raise capital"
"Well?"
81 made inquiries. of course. secret
ly. That's business" his eyes shifting
d little. "and I've kept him under
watch all the time. The specimens
came from your old pasture. The
chances are there's nothing in it, but
| am always ready to invest money in
long risks. Will you sell?'
For thousand. no."
1.-TWO thousand?" eagerly.
"No."
Three"
At an imperative sign from Ella.
Mrs. Kane again shook her head.
IL don't believe the lot is worth one
tenth that money" she answered, but
| am not quite ready to sell yet, Mr..
Pill"
Lawyer Pill shufiled his feet a few
moments. then turned away.
IT'S all I'll give" he said souriy,
land you are making the mistake OF
your lives"
The next morning before they had
finished breakfast he 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 here"
"NO."
"Well. he's up to some sharp prac-
tice; mark my words on that. If 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
were any other man wouldn't turn
my 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 thousands
The gate clicked. and a boy ran up
the path with note. Lawyer PHI
watched Ella anXiously while she read
it,
From Booth" he asked.
YES"
MAKE an otfer?"
NO"
"Well he will be here soon and try
to wheede 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 Il thousand"
I'm risk that" with alacrity. "Now.
let us step inside and fix up the pa
pers Mt once. and will make You out
IA check"
AS he went buoyantly down the path
a half hour later Mrs. Kane turned to
Ella.
What was that nOte?' she asked.
Ella opened it and read:
Run Lawyer Pill up to twenty-five
thousand or 50, then sell. don't think
I'd better call now, for people around
here-and especially pill-don't know
that I'm friend of the family. I'll
be down again in 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 de
mand and will put some money in TO
develop ii and manage the thing
shrewdly. as he knows how, l think
perhaps he can get his money back.
Anyhow. | understand he got lot Of
money out of your father a 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 his 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
" 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 a day for the wedding.