Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-07-21
CHAPTER w

Ezra Cameron had never been hap
pier than during this summer. His life
mad run for years an eventless course;
his interests had been small and he
had been content to have them so. But
since the gamblers passion had fixed
It's gives upon him he had become a
changed being. He walked with a
quicker step; his dropping shoulders
grew erect; he was a new man. living
In new paradise that folly was con-
structing for him. He enjoyed the
farm greatly, rising betinles to direct
the work of his laborers He permit
ted Zelda to drive him in her runa bout
TO the interurban station-a conces-
sion in itself significant of a srea ter
Difference to the comfort and ease of
living
Jack Balcomb's fiat scheme had hung
fire during the spring, with only half
the stock of the Patoka Land and I'm
provement Company sold; but BaIcomb
mad taken 1T up again, determined TO
carry 1t through. Cameron always in
sisted, when BaIcomb approached hin,
that ne did not care to sell the tract
on the creek which the promoter Gov
eted; but he never rebuffed BaIcomb
entirely. 1t had occurred to Dameron
SAlt1A AReAANOiAib AI1IS5Ill DG OF use 10 him
The young man was, moreover. a new
species, who talked of large affairs IN
an intimate way that fell in well with
Dameron's new ideas of business. and
he accepted Balcomb at as high val
uation as he ever placed upon any one
Balcomb called one day at the dinyv
office in the Cameron Block.
Good morning, Mr. Cameron" he
said. Your office is positively cool You
ought to advertise 1.-THE coolest pIara
in the city. That's what I'd do If
had it."
He eyed a decrepit chair by Damer-
on's desk, sat down in it with mfsgiv-
ings, and famed himself with his
straw hat whose blue ribbon, it NAV
be said, was of exactly the same tint
as his shirt and socks
You are very prompt. Mr. BaIcomb
I trust my chance word of the other
night hasn't put YOU to Inconvenience
Don't worry about me! I aattar
myself that I know when to so ana
when to come, and a word from a man
of your standing is enough for a novice
like me. There's a disposition all aIon,-
the line to crowd out old men. but 7
tell you, Mr.. Cameron, we've got a lot
to learn from the senior class. flatter
myself that I have among my friends
some of the grandest old men in the
State and I'm proud of it."
"A worthy sentiment-a very WORTHY
sentiment. Mr.. Balcomb."
Il consider, Mr. Cameron, that any,
thing I may be able to do for YOU Is 10
my credit It looks we'll to the public
for a young tyro in business to win the
confidence of one of the conservatives.
Doctor Bridges. over at Tippecanoe-
you know the doctor?-"
L know him very well, indeed"
Doctor Bridges, the president OF Tip
pecanoe College, was a venerable Pres
byterian minister. widely beloved for
his many virtues. Dameron's face
lighted at the mention of the name.
Balcomb saw that he had struck the
right note and continued volubIy:
We'll, sir. I was the doctors secra-
tary in my junior and senior years. and
I shah always feel that / learned more
from that venerable old patriarch than
from my books. The doctor used To
say to me I'm that sweet, winning way
of his: 'Balcomb,' he would saw. he
honest, be just Over and over again
he would repeat those words. and thew
got to be a sort of rule of life with
me But I didn't come here to take IN
your time with "reminiscences"
Mr. Balcomb," said Cameron. tin
ping himself back in his chair, won
have suggested to me the possibility If
selling a strip of land I hold as trus-
tee out here on the creek. AS I have
told you before, l do not care to sell ut
this time. I have, however. some lots
southwest of town, also a part of a
trust which 1 have about decided to
dispose of. Several factories have been
built in the neighborhood. aud the lots
are already in demand by mechanics
who wish to build themselves homes.
have declined to sell them separate
~, as most of those people wish to pay
little at a time, and I don't care 10
sell in that way. I am at an age Mr..
Balcomb, when l don't like TO accept
promises for the future. Do I make
myself clear?"
Certainly, Mr.. Cameron" said Bal
comb. with a sympathy that was al
most moist with tears.
But if you can manage this and sell
those lots so as to bring me cash |
shall be willing to pay you a commits
sion-the usual commission
In other words" said Balcomb. you