The herald., 1914-02-12
"Old
Curmudgeon"
By DONALD CHANBERIIN

owned. the family homestead, could
be made valuable for i certain pur-
pose II there were more OF it. II the
adjoining place could be united with il
there would be ample room PERHAPS
the union could Ue effected
4 Belle had been abroad Two years
when this announcement reached her
and would receive her property in 4
few months. She resolved 10 return To
America and look into the matter for
herself. On her arrival she learned
/ that the purpose for which the proper
! y was wanted was large uanufac-
turing plant Those about to establish
/ IL had tried to buy the adjoining prop
erty. but had failed After Der depar
tUre for Europe a man had bought IL
who wouldn't sell Belle. who had IN
herited a business head from her IA.
Their. saw that he was making a mis-
take thar would involve her as well as
himself
The morning after her arrival she
went 10 the adjoining place to see odd
/ wilkinson Is he was called, and try
TO induce him 10 sell. As she went up
the walk &c the house a young man
came out % the porch and stood with
bis hands in his pockets watching the
approaching girl
Is Mr. Wilkinson IN" she asked.
No. be Is not
Can you tell NE where | can see
him."
1t is uncertain Can 1 be OF Service
to your
Il wish to see him with regard 10
selling his property 10 the Excelsior
Electric works. own the next place
and am interested The company will
not buy unless it can have both
places"
Come in" said the young man. and
be led the way into the drawing room.
He said be could represent the matter
to the owner Of the property and in
vited her 10 state her case This she
did remarkably well. the young man
listening artentively. though be seemed
TO be So wrapped in admiration OF
Miss Hinckley that she doubted II be
took in all she said. However. after
she had finished be promised to repre-
sent 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 be said that as
hA hnH ha
would call upon her
Mr. Alexander-that was his name
called two days later and said that.
while be had represented the matter
as she had given il 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 been vouchsafed. he suspected
that the owner wished to build on the
property himself. or possibly be might
be negotiating with other parties
Belle was very much disappointed
She told the gentleman that but few
concerns bad the means TO purchase so
large 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 be would
again confer with the owner and en-
deavor to impress him with this view
OF the case.
In few days Mr.. Alexander called
again to report that be 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 Hinckley was
discouraged.
The only way | know for you to
move the old curmudgeon," said Mr.
Alexander one 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 meeting. bur
when be admitted that he could not
do so except as the beginning Of a
matrimonial negotiation Belle baked
again; but, receiving an advance on the
otter for her property conditional on
the purchase Of the adjoining estate.
she consented. Ii 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
ander sitting in an easy chair with a
leg stretched out on a foot rest But
he rose without difficulty and said:
Il am the owner Of this property,
having bought IL the day before your
drst call here. II you wish me to Join
you IN efecting a sale TO these elec-
trio men you will have first to prom
Use to marry me- ! have got another
bid for both places and can make
these parties to whom you wish to
sell pay double the amount they have
offered, for hey must have the site"
Miss Hinckiey was quite ready to