The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-09-01

surd. 1t wastes my time"
But this time" broke In Sidney,
pleadingly.
Last time 1t was the rumor that a
trolley line was to be built, and you
wanted to cut your farm up into build
ing lots You're dippy about the values
of that land. I've got 200 acres more
than that, I'll sell you for your $4,000
cash. That's about $40 an acre"
III take you" agreed Sidney, as he
! drew out his check-book. "Will you
have the transfer made out at once"
Jordan stared increduously. 1t seem
ed too good to be true. Though he
was rich man, Jordan was terribly
pressed for ready cash with which to
swing certain deals, and this $4,000
would solve several financial problems.
Rising he led the way across the
hall to the offices of his lawyers. in
structing them omake out a deed to
Harlan, and the latter sat down to
wait for it, being assured that it would
require but few minutes.
The clerk did not explain that
similar deed had been drawn up only
a few weeks feore, when Jordan had
sought to sell the ground for half of
what he was getting from Harlan.
The deal had fallen through, and it
with the new name and terms. In 20
minutes Harlan owned the property,
and an Office boy was on hi sway to
| the bank with the check for Jordan.
Harlan followed Jordan to his own
| offices, but at the door the elder turn
ed.
IF you think you have won my adj
miration with any such grandstand
play as this" he said brutality, you
! have made a mistake. You're paying
twice what that land is worth, just to
call my bluff. That's not the sort of
man l want for a son-in-law. | want
| a man who can drive a bargain. not
one who can be fooled the way you
have BEEN
IF you will let me explain"-began
| Harlan, but with a laugh Jordan shut
| the door between them.
| He was still chuckling over this in
cident when card was brought in, to
be followed by sharp, eager-loOking
| man, local real estate agent
Uncommon cheerful you look"
commented the newcomer, as he took
a chair unlimited.
Just been turning down my daugh-
ter's sutton and getting rid of a lot of
useless real estate by loading it on
him" responded Jordan with a
chuckle. That's the seventh time I've
told Harlan that he couldn't marry
Vera"
And you sold him that parcel of
land out by the lake." asked the other
| man.
Jordan nodded. And at forty an
acre." he said with a grin. Get rid of
the whole 200 acres. He's an idea that
some of these days the land is going TO
| hn rrTh
$4,000 in bank, and l let him buy the
lot for just what he had. l bet he
can't even pay the taxes"
You haven't delivered the deeds yet,
have you?"
Did you think / was going TO give
him chance TO cool OFF," demanded
Jordan. That's not my way of doing
business. l just took him across the
hall and had the deeds drawn and
turned over to him. The money is in
the bank by now"
And you can't possibly get it back?
asked the other man anXiously.
Il couldn't be forced to take it back. q"
was the answer, followed by the rum
bling laugh. rive put that parcel on
poor Harlan so tight that it's going to
stick. What's worrying you about it,"
Jordan, Harlan didn't tell YOU that
he had given 40 acres of thi sland to
! the Mower and Reaper people, did
| hep" asked the agent.
They're going to take a site on the
| other side of the river" said Jordan.
| Il picked up a few acres cheap Just
the other side of their plant. They
employ several thousand people, and
there will be a fortune in sites for
| homes for the workmen."
| They were planning to build over
there" said the visitor slowly, but
the cost of the land was run up when
it was discovered who wanted it,
Then Harlan came along and heard
of the deal, and gave them 40 acres
outright, and looked to the other 60
to make his profit. Now you've made
him a present OF 200 acres for $1O0
an acre.
For a moment Jordans face pur-
pied. He knew the ground, and he
knew that the 800 acres were about
all that could be used by the factory
and the town that would arise near by.
1t would be impossible TO pick up
any more land. for Harlan's holdings
were on a peninsula. an dthe Jordan
tract was Immediately behind that.
| IN the other side of the road was a
marsh that it would scarcely pay TO
NIL III. Harlan had the game in his
own hands.
The visitor took his departure when
he found that Jordan had no land to
sell, and the old man was left along
to think things over. AS the result of
his cogitations he reached for the tele-
phone and called up his house.
is young Harlan there?" he asked
when he heard his daughters voice in
answer. Tell him to wait" he added.
Ask him to stay to dinner. We might
as we'll settle when you two are to be
married"
"I wanted to let him in on my in
formation" explained Sidney, when
Vera demanded light on the peculiar
message. at seems that he wants his
son-in-law to be able to do him and
/ did him-just to oblige."
And you'll sell the land back to
him?" urged Vera.
Not bit of it," asserted Harlan.
HE wouldn't really like me if | did