Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-09-22
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tary in my junior and senior years. and
shall always feel that learned more
from that venerable old patriarch than
from my books The doctor used to
say to me in that sweet, winning way
of his; 'Balcomb,' he would say, be
honest. be just over and over again
he would repeat those words, and they
got to be a sort Of rule of life with
me. But didn't come here to take up
your time with "reminiscences"
Mr. Balcomb," said Dameron, tip
ping himself back in his chair, you
have suggested to me the possibility Of
selling a strip of land l hold as trus-
tee out here on the creek AS l have
told you before, do not care to sell at
| this time. l have, however, some lots
southwest of town, also a part of a
trust, which l have about decided to
dispose of. Several factories have been
built in the neighborhood, and the lots
are already in demand by mechanics
! who wish to build themselves homes.
l have declined to sell them separate
ly' as most of those people wish to pay
a little at time, and l don't care 10
sell in that way. ! am at an age, Mr..
Balcomb, when l don't like to accept
promises for the future. Do make
myself clear?".
Certainly Mr. Dameron." 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
slon-the usual commission"
In other words" said Balcomb. 'you
wish me to find purchasers for the lots
and sell them out so as to bring Won
the money in a lump How much do
you want for them?"
I think for the corner lots should
get twelve hundred and fifty dollars
each; the inside lots hold to be worth
thousand. But we'll say fifty thou
sand for ALL"
There was an inquiry in his words
and his eyes questioned Balcomb in
way that made the young man wonder.
1t is not the part of what is known as
a good trader to show anxiety, and the
old mans tone and look were not vast
ed on Balcomb. The young fellow knew
great many things about human ma,
ture, and ever since he had seen Ezra
Cameron enter the brokers' Office he
had set the old man down as a fraud.
The reason Dameron gave for turning
the lots over to him to sell was hardly
convincing. Balcomb was nothing If
not suspicious, and 1t occurred to him
at once that Dameron was in straits;
and at the same moment he began to
devise means for turning the old mans
necessities to his own advantage.
Here is plat of the property Sup
pose you study the matter over and let
me know whether you care to attempt
the sale"
"As you wish, Mr.. Dameron. I'll
come in, say, tomorrow at this hour"
Very WELL" said Dameron, coldly.
i don't want you to undertake the
matter unless you can handle 1t In
bulk"
The Dameron addition Of fifty lots
was an inheritance from old Roger
Merriam, Zelda Dameron's grandfath-
er 1t had been a part of Margaret
Dameron's share of her fathers estate,
and was held by Ezra Dameron in trust
for Zelda. Manufacturing interests
had lately carried improvements that
way, but Damerons efforts to sell lots
had not been successful, as his prices
Improvements gave pause to the work.
ing people who were the natural buy
ers. Then Dameron hadp become in
terested in larger matters than the
peddling of lots. and he had given no
serious thought to selling until he felt
the need of obtaining more ready mon
ey for use in his speculations
At Balcomb turned to go a boy came
in with a telegram. 1t was from bro
kers in Chicago through whom Dam
eron was trading in grain. The market
had opened wildly on news that the
drought had done little actual damage
to the corn crop. An hour later he was
advised that his margins had been
wiped out; he made them good from
funds he was now carrying in Chica-
go and ordered the sale of unimpeach-
able securities to replenish his account