Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-26

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~ township. that Mr.
u III Peter Tom n {
might realise 1.-The
~ dream Of her life, y
and the very first
bargain was his un-
doing. It was alto
rather too much Of q bargain. Any one
vho knew how closely Peter Tonalins fls-
ured In all business matters would not
have considered this q drawback. but II
moved to be unfortunate. to say the least.
The agent saw Alva Crosby first. He
knew that Alva Crosby was an old man.
falling mentally, so that seemed an easy
oIace to begin. 1t was no trick at all 10
barnboozle Alva into giving an option at
4 ridiculously low figure; tho agent AFTER
ward said that 1t was shame TO DO H.
hut that he was working for Peter Tom
Inns. and he knew how much Peter Tom
Inns thought OF q bargain. This, there
fore. seemed like an suspicious beginning.
He had to work with options. for Peter
Tomlins did not wish to begin buying
until he was reasonably sure that ne
could get all that he wished without being
held up Peter could afford to pay any
old price to crafty any old whim, but
there was much less qualification when
the cost went over the market price. Be-
aides, this was his wife's within.
So the Crosby bargain looked particu-
larly good to the agent. and he took ad-
vantage of the old man in really shame
full way. He even went so far as to Sc
cure from him q pledge Of secrecy, which
made the situation wholly to his liking.
But Alva Crosby did not understand that
this pledge Of secrecy put his daughter
without the pale Of knowledge and he told
her. She studied the purposely compli-
Gated terms Of the option with great care,
in the end reaching the conclusion that
her father had agreed to sell the farm for
q good deal less than Its value-a good
deal less. indeed. than he supposed. for
the price was concealed in a method OF
valuation that was deceptive. Thereupon
she questioned him, and was able to see
the significance Of some things the agent
had said.
She was distressed and angry; the agent
had perpetrated a despicable swindle;
therefore. II it lay In her power. the
agent should suffer. The easiest and
quickest way to make the. agent suffer
was to block his other deals. She was
not absolutely certain that there were to
be any other deals, but some things he
had said led TO the inference that he WAS
after more than one farm.
The rural telephone line was great
convenience in this emergency. Charlotte
Crosby-generally known IS Lottfe-
promptly got in communication with the
Goodwins. Some one had been making
inquiries about the Goodwin farm. 50 the
Goodwins were not surprised to learn that
q mysterious party was trying to buy up
everything in sight.
~ don't know just what the scheme 10,
said Lottie Crosby, but 1t is a big one
and very important There IL no doubt
that Won can get your own price for your
land if you have the nerve to hold out
tor H.
The price of the Goodwin farm went up
100 per cent Immediately. So did the
prices Of the Raster and the CAM prop
critics as soon as Lottie had telephoned to
them. Then the news spread to others.
and everything in the neighborhood
scared The agent discovered that his
first bargain was his only bargain: after
that lie ran up against a stone wall of
prices that would have given Peter Tom
Inns all apoplectic fit. So the agent went
home
Let the thing rest while he ad-
vised We can pick sup the land quietly
after they've got tired waiting for the big
price.
But don't want to let 1t rest a while. :
growIed Peter Tomlins. and, what
more TO the point. Mrs. Tomlins doesn
want to lot 1t rest q while It's her pc !.
scheme"
Dir. Tomiins liked TO feel that his
wealth enabled him TO do what he pleased
when he pleased. but 1t was Mrs. Tom
lins who was most impetient. Mr. Tom :
Inns would not let Impotence. espociahs
biz wife's iInpatience. lure him to FOOLISH
s1travagance, but Mrs Tomlins wantec
her dream OF q magnificent country place
realized al the earliest possible moment
She was already planning a splendid
palace end magnificent drives and private
GOLF links and vineyards. and orchards.
ehe was sure that the realisation OF he:
Dream was worth all that 1t could posi-
~ cost, but she could not convince her
husband that IL was worth deyiatio.:
nom strict business principles in the ma
Ter OF purchase.
30 Mrs. Tomlins. in her anxiety, follow
Cd the agent into the district, and, like
The agent. she went to the Crosby place
frst She saw Lottie Crosby, which was
Unfortunate for her. hottie was a girl
OF spirit. and Mrs. Tomlins was not the
Kind of woman to make the most favor
able impression upon her. for Mrs, Tom
hns was disposed to be haughtily patron
tzing
y have heard said Mrs. Tom1ins. ''that
you betrayed the secret of our negotia-
tons 20 the neighbors"
y didn't lna.x- .pIa n tinn& than