The Press., 1910-03-02

scornful. Even her mother looked sus- picious.
 ''There is something behind this, MT. Pill.'' said Ella coldly. What is it? You are not throwing away money?"
 The man seemed disappointed.
 ''There is nothing at all, l assure you. except that-that-well an old neighbor of yours was down yester- day afternoon and acted very mys- l teriously. He had some specimens which he showed to few people in the postoffice. but slipped into his pocket when he saw me coming. I suspect he was trying to raise capital.'' ''
 "Well?"
 ''I made inquiries, of course, secret l ly. That's business" his eyes shifting 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 I am always ready to invest money in long risks. Will you sell?" "For q thousand, mo-"
 1.-TWO thousand?" eagerly.
 "No."
 "Three?' At an imperative sign from Ella, Mrs. Kane again shook her head.
 "I don't believe the lot is worth one tenth that money" she answered, ''but l am not quite ready to sell yet, MT. Pill"
 Lawyer Pill shuffled his feet few moments, then turned away.
 Its all I'll give" he said sourly, 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 it were any other man I 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 $1O,OOO for the lot"
 They both gasped, then Ella shook her head.
 Twenty thousand?"
 The gate clicked, and a boy ran up the path with a note. Lawyer Pill watched Ella anxiously while she read it.
 "From Booth?'' he asked.
 "Yes."
 Make an Offer~
 ''No.'
 "Well, he will be here soon and try to Wheedle you out of the land. I know these mysterious fellows. 1 pre- fer to be open and pay full value. I'll give you $3O.OOO for the five acres"
 Ella looked at her mother and nod ded slightly.
 "Yes, we will accept it." said Mrs. Kane, "'but l warn you the place isn't worth a thousand.'
 "Ill risk that" with alacrity. "Now. let US step inside and fix up the pa pers at once. and I will make you out 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 so, then sell. 0On't think I'd better call now, for people around here-and especially PilI-don't know that I'm a friend of the family. I'll be down again in few days and make a long visit There is a ledge of pret- ty good building granite on the land, and if Pill will wait little for de- mand and will put some money in to develop it and manage the thing shrewdly, as he knows how, think perhaps he can get his money back. Anyhow. I understand he got lot of money out of your father long time ago by sharp practice. and this will sort of square things up."
 'sThe dear boyv' 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 ly of him that he had failed to com ply with her request and acknowl- edged that she had done him great injustice. She repaid him for what he had done for her mother and her by setting a day for the wedding.