Democratic messenger., 1910-11-12
BUYING A
PLACE
The Price Went Very High,
Then Dropped
BY LUCY X. WYNKOOP
Copyright. 1910 by American Press
Association

a young man pulling boat on a
New England lake rested on his oars
before a plank landing. on which stood
young woman evidently waiting for
something.
Reg pardon" he said to her. sis
there rond behind those houses up
there leading down TO the rnilroad sta.
tion at Parkvilley''
Yes. there Is" was the reply
The young man gaped about him as
though interested In the lay OF the
land He was really interested in the
girl, who was quite comely. He was
trying TO think Of some other question
TO ask her in order TO keep up con.
versation.
Can you tell me who occupies that
white house up on that crest!" he ask
I'd.
"Dr Eecrton."
There was another pause. The re-
plies were so exactly 10 the point that
they did not invite any furhcr ques.
tioning. However. the young man was
not to be dropped.
I'm looking for place like that on
this lake" he said. II wonder II IL
could be bought"
II suppose there's hardly n piece Of
property in the world that cannot be
bought II the purchaser is willing TO
give large enough price"
1--WE looked over all these New Eng.
land lakes with view to buying a
summer residence. and like this bit
OF water better than any OF them. My
mother and sister won't 60 to hotels.
and I don't like them myself We
wish place where we can 90 as soon
as spring opens and stay till late in
the autumn"
The young lady evinced no interest
in the young mans family plans and
made no reply.
THAT place up there would suit US
exactly" he continued Il would like
TO spend all the rest of my summers
there. The view must be fine"
NNhAb Bt iiN NVut
trying 10 buy H." said the girl You
might write n note TO the owner ask
ing II any sum you would be prepared
TO pay would be accepted"
THANK you very much for the sug-
gestion."
At that moment there were sounds OF
motorboat engine explosions, and a
launch was seen making for the land
ing. Ii soon pulled up there under care
OF single boatman. The young lady
look at the oarsman, was carried away.
Mighty fine looking girl" he said
to himself-"well but plainly dressed
and with an air Of being somebody
wonder who she is
Jack Aborn was an enormously
wealthy yonng man. having Inherited
the bulk OF his fathers property. and
was accustomed TO having anything
money could buy that he desired.
There was something unique in the
EGerton place that struck his fancy.
He couldn't very well build such a
place. To begin with. he couldn't get
the site; then II would require half a
century TO grow the trees. Besides,
there was an old fashioned look about
the whole place that could not be i'm
itated As the young lady had said.
there would be no harm in trying to
buy ii. aud he resolved to drop the
owner a note asking II he would con
slider an offer.
He did so and received reply writ
ten in a woman's hand as follows:
DR. Egcrion desires me TO acknowledge
tho receipt Of your note asking II an offer
for this place will be considered and TO
say that Il has been M the Egerton fam
ily so many years that there is at pres
ent no intention on the part of the own
er 10 sell Il. However. the doctor would
like to know what IL would bring. Yours
truly. SARAH H. MCCARTHY.
Secretary.
Aborn was sufficiently versed In
business methods TO waste no further
time in. correspondence: he called upon
DIR. Egerton for conference. He
was received by Miss Mccarthy. a
middle aged lady. who told him that
the doctor had gone 10 the city. but
that she tthc secretary had charge OF
such business matters MS required ut
teniion in the doctors absence and had
power TO net Aborn asked what the
property would bring II offered openly
for sale. and Miss Mccarthy said she
thought II would easily sell for $4,000.
Whcreupon Aborn made an OFFER OF
$4,000 for il. The secretary said that
she would transmit the offer 10 her
principal and would write him.
In due time note came to. Aborn
stating briefly that his offer would not
be accepted He was quite ready tn
raise II, but did not like dealing through
a third party. He called again on the
doctor. but was again disappointed AZ
not seeing him. The doctor was at
home, but very busy. Aborn left word
with the secretary that he would raise
his bid TO 10000.
A reply 10 this came 10 him that
astonishcd him II was this:
DR. Egerton desires me 10 inform Mr..
Aborn that inquiries having beer made