Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-01-07

W AAf 1FN fNAif a. WV
A plonip yes was on Mrs. Kane's
bps Iellfaw II and raised her hand
wRrnlngN Her father had once OF
fered The :, Tor 500, and at their last
Interview Alt ED had laughed de.
rlsIvely y ! refusad 10 cousdef t az
Aa. SsS fhefe vas evidently SOME
thing in the background
what will you give Tor itT she
asked cautiously.
"well-er--say 81 900 The error was
mine, and | wish to do something
handsome to compensate you for the
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 coldly. what is III
You are not throwing away money!"
The man seemed disappointed.
There is nothing ut all, | assure
you, except that-that-well, an old
neighbor Of yours was down yester
day afternoon and acted very mys
teriously. He had some specimens
which he showed to few people In
the postofiice. but slipped into his
pocket when he saw me coming. /
suspect he was trying to raise capital"
"Well2"
~ made inquiries, Of course, secret
ly. That's business" his eyes shifting
a 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 II, but
am always ready TO invest money in
long risks. VIII you sellT'
"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. but
am not quite ready TO sell yet, Mr.
Pill"
Lawyer PHI shufIled his feet few
moments, then turned away.
ITS all I'll give" he said sourly,
"and you are making the mistake or
your lives"
The mex; morning before they had
finished breakfast he was again Mt the
door. vlsibly excited.
THAT Archie Booth has been send.
ing spec mems away TO an assay Of
nce." he began hurriedly HAS he
been herer
mo"
"Well, he's up to some sharp prac-
tice; mark my words on that. II 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. II It
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 ana give
you $4,000 for the lot"
They both gasped. then ella shook
her head.
Twenty thousand"
The gate clicked. and a boy ran up
the path with note. Lawyer PHI
watched Ella anXiously while she read
1t.
From BoothT he asked.
Eyes"
make m offerf"
mo"
well, 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. ri
give you $4,000 for the five acres"
Ella looked at her mother and nod
ded slightly.
Eyes, we will accept It," said Mrs,
Kane, but warn you the place isn't
worth thousand"
an risk that" with 0lacrlty. NOW
let US step inside and fix up the pa
pers at once, and | will make you out
a check"
AS he went buoyantIy 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 PHI up to twenty-five
thousand or 80, then sell. ! don't think
I'd better call now, for people around
here--nnd especially Plll--don't know
that I'm friend Of the family. III
be down again In few days and make
q long visit There Is a ledge OF pref
ty good building granite on the land.
and II PHI VIII walt little for a de-
mand and will put some money In 10
develop 1t and manage the thing
shrewdly, as he knows how, think
perhaps he can get bis money back.
Anyhow. understand he got lot Of
money out Of your father n long time
ago by sharp practice. and this will
sort OF square things up"
The dear boyp murmurcd Ella as
she refolded the note and slipped It
into her dress.
When Archie came he received quite
different reception from that which
he would have received after the re-
teipt 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 Ind thought very hard
ly Of him that he had failed to com.
ply with her request aud ncknowl
edged that she had done him n great
injustice. She repaid him for what
he had done for her mother and her by
setting day for the wedding.