Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-12
Zelda Cameron
BY
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
c>syrisA., 1904. By Ts Bsbb.-Merin Co.
" ~~~~~~~S-S~~~~~|~~
c.,,risA.. 1904. b, II. B..b.-M.rrin Co.

| 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
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 a time, and / don't care 10
sell in that way. I am at an age, Mr..
Balcomb. when / don like to accept
promises for the future, De / 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
chose lots so as to bring me cash l
shall be willing to pay you a commits
sion--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 you
the money in a lump. How much do
You want for them?'
Il think for the corner lots I should
get twelve hundred and fifty dollars
each; the inside lots l hold to be worth
a thousand. But Wen say fifty thou
Sane for ALL
There was an inquiry in his words
and his eyes questioned Balcomb in n
way lila Iidue Tie young man WOnueT.
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
a 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 Cameron 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 Cameron 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 a 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.. Cameron. I'll
come in, say, tomorrow at this hour"
Very WELL" said Cameron, coldly.
Il don't want you to undertake the
matter unless you can handle it In
bulk"
The cameron addition of fifty lots
was an inheritance from old Roger
Merriam, Zelda Dameron's gr%andfath-
err. 1t had been a part of
Dameron's share of her fathers estate,
and was held by Ezra Cameron in trust
for Zelda. Manufacturing interests
had lately carried improvements that
way, but Dameron's efforts to sell lots
had not been successful, as his prices
were high and the menace of expensive
improvements gave pause to the work.
ing people who were the natural buy
ers. Then Cameron hadp become In
terested in larger matters than the
bedding 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 sp%eculations.
At BAlcomb turned to go a boy came
in with a telegram. It 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 beer
wiped out; he nae them good from
funds he was now carrying In Chica-
go md ordered the sale OF unimpeach-
able securities to replenish his account.