Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-07-28


GU seem to have drawn largely on
the country" remarked the old man,
dryly.
You are quite right, I did. It's
easier. There's lots of money in these
country banks that's crying for invest
ment I know lot Of business houses
right here in our jobbing district that
go to the country for their loans. These
old Mariona bankers have never got
over the panic of '73. Every time they
make loan they make an enemy. A
man whose credit is Al doesn't like TO
have to go over his past and the his
tory of his wife's relations even unto
the third and fourth generation every
time he borrows a few thousand dol
lars. Not much!"
Cameron laughed, a little uneasily,
but he laughed Two years before he
would have shuddered at such heresy.
We'll" said Balcomb. rising, you
think over the matter and let me know
whether you care to sell. I'll give you
one thousand dollars for an option on
the creek strip at sixty thousand. III
see you in a few days"
No! Mo-" The old mans voice
rose ENORMOUSLY. Delays were dan
gerous. If Balcomb could do it he must
effect the sale at once.
The figure l named yesterday" be-
gan Cameron.
lis out of the question" said Bal
comb, with finality.
Then nine hundred dollars apiece
for the block of lots"
Perfectly absurd" And Balcomb
turned toward the door.
The old man rose and rested against
his desk heavily His bent figure was
wholly pitiful; the claw-like fingers on
which he leaned trembled so that his
thin, worn body shook
Suppose you name a figure Mr.. Bal
comb" he said, with a pathetic attempt
at jauntiness.
Il am authorized to close at twenty
thousand cash; and my commission
comes out of that. Wen say fifteen
hundred commission. But 1 am not
anxious to buy at that price-it's quite
immaterial to me. What I want is the
option"
81 have better use for the money;
yes, l can use it to advantage" said
Cameron, as though he were bordering
tie matter gravely and seeking to JUS
tify himself.
Balcomb took a step toward him.
In other real estate, by the terms of
the trust" he said, smiling in an in
sinuating way.
Yes; yes, of course" said Cameron,
astily.
And there's the order of court"
ITO be sure-there's an order of
ourt required by the terms of the
rust. l suppose you wouldn't mind
yaiting little for that The trust ex-
,ires in a few weeks-I prefer to go 10
he Judge with the whole settlement at
JnCe."
But you prefer not to go to the
nudge to ask his approval of this par
ticular deed. All right. The abstra ct
needn't show these reQuirements-our
attorney will not be particular. I'll fix
that for you"
Yes, you can arrange that. I sup
pose" said the old man, weakly. He
was trembling now, visibly. and his
voice shook,
THAT will be worth five hundred
more-as special commission and guar
antv that you won't forget the court 5
annrovaI," said Balcomb, coolly.
NO. oh, MOI" walled the old man.
I'm giving it away. You are taking
unfair advantage. l am not well-I
am not quite myself to-day"
He sank into his chair. breathing
hard: but he recovered instantly and
smiled at Balcomb with an effort.
I'm not a man to back out when I
have pledged my word" he said, grand
w "A trades a trade" And Balcomb
grinned.
Now. one other thing, Mr. Damer.
on. I'll be square with you and tell
the truth. I've got to have the option
on the creek strip. My people are not
a bit crazy to buy lots like these but
our apartment scheme is a big thinC.
and to get your strip OF ground out
there on the creek bank we're willing
TO buy these lots of yours-just. as the
fellow said, to show there's no hard
feeling"
"At seventy-f1ve thousand for he
creek strip. Not a cent less. It's a
mart of the trust. It's my daughters.
I shall not give it away. There are
only a few weeks more in which shall
have any right to sell-and-and l
have had another Offer" he ended.
weakly.
Quite likely; but it isn't so easy %
get so much cash on short notice And
there's the difficulty of finding other
real estate to reinvest the money in.
and the order of court and all that"
Balcomb stroked his beard and eyed
his prey He dropped the suggestion
about the reinvestr1ent Of the pro
ceeds in real estate merely to show
his acquaintance with the terms of the
trust. 1t amused him to remember Ez-
"a Dameron's old reputation as a hard
customer He was proving, in Bal
combs own phrase. almost too easy.
Wen call it twenty thousand, then.
for the block of lots" said the old man.
smiling and rubbing his hands.
Very WELL" said Balcomb, with
two thousand as my fee in the matter;
and an option to buy the creek strip It
sixty thousand"
The old man stared at him with a
sudden malevolent light in his eyes.
but he said with exaggerated dignity:
Very well. Mr.. Balcombr
Cameron drew from his desk an alb
stract of title covering the Roger Mer-
Ram addition, It was in due form, the
work of a well-known title company.
Baleomb took 1t and ran his eye
through its crisp pages.
So the next afternoon a deed was
filed with the county recorder. convey
ing the block of lots to the Patoka
Land and Improvement Company, Ezra
cameron receiving eighteen thousand
dollars a S consideration and ]. Arthur
Balcomb two thousand dollars as COM
mission Opportunities to make two
thousand so easily were not to be put
aside. and Balcomb's conscience trol-
hled him not at all over the transac-
ton Van Cleve, the vice president and
attorney, did exactly what Balcomb,
the treasurer. told him to do without
question: and when Balcomb expressed
himself as satisfied that the courts ap-