The Washington times., 1911-02-04

I him that Rogers lean frame was a:
rigid as the chair that held it,
Just as told you," nodded Mr.. Jor'
don, who was at Mr.. Chambers elbow
meath his desk and the door opened
before, his secretary. Please show ii
the Others" he requested quietly.
The secretary bowed and the dool
closed.
THE others?" breathed Rogers: and
he and David and the Mayor looked al
one another
The others exclaimed Mr.. Jordon
What others?''
Mr.. Chambers sat silent. with un-
changed face. The next instant the
door, opening, answered the question
Into the room hesitantly filed the five
owners Of the land Rogers controlled.
Rogers. David, and the Mayor, and also
Mr.. Jordon, rose in aStOnishment- The
five stopped and stared at Rogers party
plainly the surprise was mutual.
Mr.. Chambers, remaining in his seat,
motioned the newcomers to the chairs
at the left Of his desk. BE seated,
gentlemen"
Whats this mean?" David asked,
catching Rogers arm.
Rogers turned toward him, and for an
instant David felt he was gazing into
the abyss of fear. Then the arm he
held frightened and Rogers looked to-
ward his five clients and nodded.
Good afternoon. I'm glad to see
you," he said in an even tone.
They sat down again, and Rogers
eyes fastened on the finely wrinkled
face OF Mr.. Chambers-as did every
other pair of eyes in the room. They
all vainly strove to read the purpose be-
hind that inscrutable countenance. The
purpose was simple enough By bring
ers' crowd, each ignorant that the other
was to be present, unprepared with
common replies, he had thought he
might possibly play them against each
other in a way to bring them to his
price; and II not, he would at least have
them ali together, and so be able to
make an immediate settlement upon
their terms. He had had a faint hope
that Mr.. Hawkins might discover some
thing significant, but note from the
detective early in the morning had con-
tained no single new fact.
Mr.. Chambers did not give the sur
prised group time to readjust itself. II
have called together all parties inter-
ested in this transaction In order that
we may more effectively reach an
agreement, and in the hope that We
may obviate the necessity for future
meetings"
He fastened his gray eyes upon the
five owners, who were looking very
much at a loss, and spoke coldly, calm
ly, as though his decision were un-
changeable and his words immutable
facts.
First, I desire to say that you gen.
tlemen and your agent have a very in
fiated idea of the value Of your prop
erty. The price is one we cannot and
will not pay. If you want to take what
we offer, very we'll If not. 1 assure you
that we shall run no streets, water
mains, sewers, or gas pipes near your
tracts We shall leave the neighborhood
of your property entirely unimproved.
You will recall that our land lies be-
tween yours and the car line; we shall
forbid anybody living on your land
crossing our land. Nobody else is going
to buy your land under these conditions.
You can sell it only to u.s."
The owners, struck while OF guard,
were dazed; and David, Rogers, and the
Mayor, who had expected the exact op-
posite OF this talk, were completely
taken aback
The cold, dominant voice went on:
Such being the situation, does 1t not
seem better to accept our price, which
Is fair price, than to have your land
made unstable, to have your invest
ment tied up for years to Gomez"
He centered his personality upon the
weakest Of the five. I'm sure you
think SO. do you not?''
The man blinked-then nodde his
head.
But" began Rogers.
And You, I'm sure you think so,
Mr.. Chambers demanded of another.
Ye-e-s," said the-man
This was child's play to Mr.. Cham
bers, who had browbeaten and over
powered even the directors of great cor
porations. He tried to rush his plan
through before the men could recover.
1t Is plain you are all agreed. You
see how your clients stand, Mr.. Rog-
ers. 1t certainly seems the only course
to settle this matter at once upon the
basis OF our offer. which seems to- them
fair"
Rogers saw that awe of the great
financier and his intimidating state