Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-19
CHAPTER XVI.-(Continued.) .
There was no MISLEADING the CLEAN

NANS tIiS Wv $4,000 - 'yN"'
Who's your purchaser" he asked.
II think I've mentioned to you the
Patoka Land and Improvement Com
pany. We've decided not to confine our
selves to our fiat scheme alone. We're
going to handle big real estate scheme
wherever we see anything good enough
and big enough to make 1T worth while.
That wasn't our intention at first, but
I'VE persuaded our people to see 1t that
way. All the big fortunes in this coun-
Try have been made in real estate, and
the possibilities haven't been exhaust
ed yet. If we can hit a fair price, Wen
take your lots and work them off In
our own way; but I shouldn't bother
with the thing at all If it weren't that
nope to get that creek strip from you
Who are in your company asked
the old man. His need for cash was
great. but he tried to conceal his anx-
iety, and he was really curious to know
who were behind Balcomb.
The promoter reeled off a long list
of names. most of them unknown to
Cameron. but Balcomb's ready explain
alton impaired stability to all Of them.
There were half a dozen country bank
ers and a number of men who were or
had been State officers.
YOU 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. l know a 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 a loan they make an enemy. A
mai whose credit Is AL doesn't like TO
have to go over his past and the his
tory Of his wife's relations eve unto
the third and fourth generation every
time he borrows a few thousand dol
lars. Not much!"
cameron laughed. q little uneasily.
but he laughed. Two a before he
would have shuddered at such heresy.
well" said Balcomb, rising. you
think over the matter mi let me know
whether you care to sell. I'll give you
one thousand dollars for an option on
h creek strip at sixty thousand. I'll
sec you In q few days"
mo! MOI" The old mans voice
rose querulously. Delays were dan
gerous. II Balcomb could do 1t he must
effect the sale at once.
THE figure I 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 ben ngure was
wholly pitiful; the claw-like fingers on
which he leaned trembled so that his
thin, worn body shook
Suppose you name q fig1re. Mr.. Bal
comb he said, with q pathetic attempt
at jauntiness.
II am authorized to close at twenty
thousand cash; inc my commission
comes out OF that. Wen say fifteen
anxious to buy at that price-it's quite
option"
~ have better use for the money;
yes. I can uss Il to advantage" said
the matter gravely and seeking to Jus
tify himself.
Balcomb took a step toward i'm.
.In other real estate. by h terms OF
the trust" he said. smiling in an in
sinuating way.
eyes; yes. Of course" said Cameron.
hastily.
.And there's the order OF court"
..To be sure-there's an order of
court required by the terms of the
trust. / suppose you wouldn't mind
waiting q little for that. The trust ex-
pires in Z few weeks-I prefer to go to
the Judge with he whole settlement at
once"
but you prefer not to go to the
Judge to ask his approval Of this par
ticular deed. All right The abstract
needn't show these reQuirements-ouI
attorney will not be particular. I'll Ak
that for you"
ayes you can arrang that, I sup
pose" said the old a weakly. He
voice shook. 8
more-as special commission and guar
anty that you won't forget the courts
approval said Balcomb, coolly.
aNo. oh, not" walled the old man
.I.m giving II away. You are taking
unfair advantage. I am not we'll
am not quite myself to-day"
He sank into his chair. breathing
| hard: blu he recovered. instantly and
smiled at Balcomb with an effort.
.Tm no q man to back out when
have pledged my word" he said. grand
". IA trades q trade" And Balcomb
grinned-
"Now. one other thing. Mr.. Damer-
o n 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
! hit crazy to buy lots like these. but
our apartment scheme Is a big thing.
and to get you 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"
seventy-ive thousand FOR ..he
creek strip. No q cent less. It's q
part OF the trust. It's my daughters.
! shall not give 1t away. There are
only q Few weeks more in which I shall
have any right to sell-and-and I
have had another OFFER" he ended,
weakly.
quite likely: but IT isn't 80 easy 10
get % 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.
Balcdlmb RrUked his beard and eyed
his prey. He dropped the suggestion
about the reinsestment OF the pro-
Proeractea.
All $3.50 - s.fLlta --SAv-a-H---