The Press., 1910-12-07

would tell this sociologist that he'd bet ter cut out his degree till he has learn ed to treat his fellow men with proper civility. I had perfect right to in- uuire whether he would sell his place and was led to believe that an offer would be acceptable even if not ac- cepted Then I receive an''-
 "You have not yet offered enough. The doctor holds the property far above its intrinsic worth on account of it's having been so long in the family" Aborn, being angry, thought how nice it would be to offer a price this insulting sociologist could not afford to decline.
 "Very we'll" he said, "tell him I'll give him $100,OOO for it. When will he be at home?"
 Tomorrow"
 ''I'll call for the reply"
 Aborn looked over the premises as he went away and determined to give double the price offered If necessary, buy adjoining tracts and make the place a paradise. Though he did not know it, all this fever to possess the place was born of his desire to have his own way in everything and to take revenge for having been told the truth. ....
 The next morning Aborn was row ing on the lake when he met the girl he had seen on the landing. She was in canoe.
 s"Beg pardon" he said, 'but"-
 The girl stopped padding and waited.
 Perhaps you will remember sug- gesting that I write the owner of the white house up there asking if he would like to sell the placer
 "Well?"
 "What kind of a man is he any wayT'
 "Dr. Egerton is very level headed person. Anything the doctor tells you has weight to it."
 "H'm! He's no gentleman"
 "The doctors very plain spoken"
 ''I should think he is.''
 ''I hope my suggestion hasn't led to anything disagreeable."
 "Oh, the suggestion was very sensi- ble as well as very kind."
 "Is the place for saleY
 "I suppose it is. But for a man who gets probably $75 month for running the poor he's mighty Independent"
 The girl made no reply to this. h. deed, she indicated that the dialogue dle in the water. Aborn dipped his oars, and they pulled apart.
 During the afternoon Aborn called at Dr. Egerton's to learn if $1O0,00O would buy d place worth not over a third of that amount. He had given up any expectation of seeing the doc tor. Indeed, he rather thought it bet ter he should not. He feared he would be tempted to punch the mans head. He was standing in the draw ing room looking out through a win dow on the lake when, hearing a rus tie of woman's clothing behind him, he turned, expecting to see the secretary. What was his amazement to see the girl he had met first on the landing and the same morning in a canoe. Her eyes were bubbIing with mischief. "W-w-hat does this mean" he stam- mered.
 "You called to see Dr. Egerton, did you notY'
 "Yes."
 'I am pr. Egerton.''
 "You?'
 "Yes. am Cornelia Egerton, Ph. D."
 q see.''
 It was scarcely necessary for him to add anything to these two simple words, for it was evident that his eyes had been opened.
 'Very stupid of me, wasn't it?'
 "Be seated. I owe you an apology. The temptation was too strong for me-"
 "How about that information you got about meY'
 Made out of whole cloth"
 "Your secretary?"
 My aunt"
 "She said something about your run ming city charity bureau"
 Heaven has blessed me with great wealth. I consider myself simply as its dispenser. In order to dispense it intelligently studied sociology"
 Heaven has also given me great wealth, but 1t hasn't occurred to me to give it away till after my death, when shall have no use for it."
 Better adopt my plan."
 Do you really own this house"
 "Yes, but I own another I like bet ter. You may have this one for what \ consider it worth-$2O,O O,OOO."
 "Doneg'
 A yeaV later the doctor went with the house.