Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-01-16
"Old
Curmudgeon
By DONALD .cHAMBERLIN

a fortune.
While she was abroad her guardian
wrote her that certain property she
owned. the family homestead, could
be made valuable for a certain pur-
pose il there were more of IT,, Ii the
adjoining place could be united with it
there would be ample room. Perhaps
the union could be effected.
Belle had beer abroad two years
when this announcement reached her
and would receive her property in q
few months. She resolved to return to
America and look into the matter for
herself. On her arrival she learned
that the purpose for which the proper
ty was wanted was a large manufac-
turing plant. Those about to establish
1t had tried to buy the adjoining prop
erty, but had failed. After her depar-
ture for Europe a man had bought 1t
who wouldn't sell. Belle, who had in
herited a business head from her "a
Their. saw that he was making a mis-
take that would involve her as well as
himself.
The morning after her arrival she
went to the adjoining place to see "Old
Wilkinson" as he was called, and try
to induce him to sell. AS she went up
the walk to the house a young man
came out TO the porch and stood with
his hands In his pockets watching the
approaching girl,
us Mi. Wilkinson imp she asked.
"No. he Is not"
"can you tell me where | can see
him.
III is uncertain. Can / be Of service
to your"
Il wish to see him with regard to
selling his property to the Excelsior
Electric works. own the next place
aud am interested. The company will
not buy unless 1t can have both
places
"Come In" said the young man. and
he led the way Into the drawing room
He said he could represent thesmatter
to the owner of the property and In
vIted her to state her case. This she
did remarkably well, the young man
listening a~ttentively. though he seemed
" Dt bO WtaDDC0 Ill uQulAidlAQh vi
Miss Hinckley that she doubted II be
took In all she said. However, after
she had finished he promised to repre-
SEM the matter to the owner In a IA
vorable light. Then he invited her to
inspect the place, taking her into the
greenhouses and presenting her with
some fine American Beauty roses.
When she departed he said that as
soon as he had anything to report he
would call upon her.
Mr.. Alexander-that was his name
called two days later and said that.
VIII he had represented the matter
as she bad given 1t to him, the owner
was still aVerse to selling. Miss Hinck-
ley asked the young man what rea-
sons had been given for the refusal
and was told that no reason whatever
had beer vouchsafed. He suspected
that the owner wished to build on the
property himself, or possibly he might
be negotiating with other parties.
Belle was very much disappointed.
She told the gentleman that but few
concerns had the means to purchase so
large a property and Ii the opportunity
were not taken advantage Of both
places would remain as they were.
producing no income and paying taxes
that would gradually eat them up.
The young man said that he would
again confer with the owner and en-
deayUr to impress him with this view
of the case.
In a few days Mr.. Alexander called
again to report that he had failed to
Impress the owner OF the property
with the reasons Miss Hinckley had
brought forth and feared that be had
other views for the property. The
matter dragged along. The would be
purchasers were known to be looking
at other sites, and Miss Hiuckley was
discouraged.
The only way | know for you to
eni017e the old curmudgeon." said Mr..
Alexander n day to Belle. lis TO
marry him. When you have done that
you can make him do what you like"
Belle secuted the idea. Indeed, she
had taken quite a fancy to this Mr..
Alexander. but anyway she wouldn't
marry an old man. especially a stub
born one. But she thought Of the
matter and concluded that she would
look the old chap over. Alexander
agreed to arrange a meeting, but
when he admitted that he could not
do so except as the beginning of a
matrimonial negotiation Belle baked
again: but, receiving an advance on the
offer for her property conditional on
the purchase of the adjoining estate,
she consented. 1t was arranged that
she go the next day to make the call,
Mr.. Wilkinson having an attack of
govt which kept him of his feet.
Miss Hinckley was received at the
door by a servant and ushered into
the library, where she saw Mr.. Alex
-aAaln NTH a j