Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-09-26

longer That's one sure thing"
"Why?"
Because there won't be anything
to run 1t for. This can't hold out
more than two years, at the most.
It's getting poor now"
That's what should like to know"
returned the man. Its hard stuff to
pick up when you want It,"
Hard STUFF to find, is it?" unused
Don as he drove away. swell, there's
plenty of 1t up our way-too much of
1t. The whole thing is for sale, too"
he exclaimed, glancing up the hill in
the direction Of the Whitcomb farm.
Late that night Mrs. Whitcomb
went upstairs to see If her son had
fallen asleep and had left his lamp
burning. She found him sitting at
table, bending over maze OF figures.
What are you doing up so late?"
she asked.
I'm trying to find way to build
up the farm" came the evasive re.
ply.
You'll never do it by breaking into
the night, this way" she murmured.
1T is rather late, isn't it," he said
smi!ingly. II guess III 60 to bed"
A whispered goodnight foated back
to him from the hallway. He turned
the lamp lower and sat down at the
table again. His bed was unoccupied
that night.
Daybreak found him ready for
second trip to Weldon. In order to
gain added information, he visited
the shops and mills during the early
part of the day. Then there were
more figures and final survey of the
facts at his command. The afternoon
was nearly half gone when he entered
the presidents office.
Il called to see you about your
sand supply" he said. as Mr.. Gordon
turned in his chair.
whats the matter with IT." The
president thought there must be some
thing wrong with the tramway
ITS running out. isn't It? What
you have in sight will soon be ex.
hausted. I have two or three million
tons of 1t for sale, II you would care
to consider the matter"
where Is it," asked Mr. Gordon.
up on our farm"
you mean that sand hill? VIII
you deliver it,"
mo, but you could extend the tram.
way. It's In almost a direct line up
over the hill. Our thirty-acre lot
would keep you supplied for 15 years
at least-probaby longer"
And how about the price,"
1.-TWO hundred dollars an acre"
six thousand dollars!" calculated
the president. ~ shouldn't consider
your whole farm to be worth more
than half that amount"
Perhaps not as a farm, but how
about the value Of the sand? Wouldn't
you be getting 1t at pretty low
price,"
There may be something In the
scheme" continued the president, ap.
parently unaware that anyone had
been speaking. 81 am not prepared
to say at present | should want to
have our engineers look into It, Per
haps you may hear from me later"
The days travelled by without
bringing any word. The engineers
had come and gone. leaving nothing
to sustain the hope which their ar.
rival had enkindled. There was only
silence and uncertainty.
On the eighth morning. however, the
tension was relieved by call at the
door, and thin, impressive-looking
envelope was ushered In. Don scanned
the contents eXcitedly. Then. thrust
ing 1t into his pocket. he swung open
the door OF his fathers ROOM
do you want to sell the thirty.
acre LOTT" he said.
THE sand hlll?" There was skep.
ticism In the voice. Who'd ever
want to buy that"
THE Weldon Marble company will
buy 1t. They'll give you $4,000 for
It,"
Mr.. Whitcomb turned about uneas.
lily. Don't bother mel don't feel
like joking.
Slipping up behind him, Don held
the open letter where the old man
could read 1t. AS the import of the
message became clear. the bent shout.
ders seemed to straighten and re-
gain portion OF their lost strength
Five thousand dollars for sand"
he exclaimed.
"They need 1t for their mills, and
they're going to build a tramway over
the hill. I'll give you the details later.
VIII you SELF"
"Will I? Why, boy, that money
would put me on my feet again. Did
you bring all this about?''
II found out they were getting short
and went to see them about it. They
did the rest" replied Don.
81 was wrong about the farming
college," Mr.. Whitcomb went on.
This shows how good an invest
ment 1t was. never should have
thought of this thing, and If had.
couldn't follow 1t up as you've done"
Generally Speaking.
The typewriter ig mightier than tn.