The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1914-10-22
!. !
!.
/ Wallingfofd|||
! In His Prime ]
+ Ry GEORGE RANDOLPH CHESTER !
+ -
Copyright, 1913. by the Bobbs-
Merrill Co.

for reasonable price. What will you
take for it?"
II couldn't give you figure. this be-
ing Sunday" announced Mr.. Thomp
son, "but I've just been offered $4,000"
I'm give you $4,000" quickly re-
turned Wallingford.
II might offer you $4,000 if was
handling nothing but other peoples
money" snapped Mr.. Daw, "but since
MALT of the funds of my company is
my own l must consult with my part.
ners."
"Give him $25000," directed MIR
Crompers. at Blackie's elbow. and
nodded with thin affability to Mr..
Hammond. who was just behind Wal.
lingford.
"1'M make it $25,ooo." bid BIack1e
eagerly.
Wallingford turned to his committee
with pursed lips. He consulted for
friends in low mumbles. then he came
to Mr.. Thompson and Mr. Daw with a
new proposition.
I'VE may as we'll make short work
of this absurd contest" he suggested
IF it is agreeable to all OF you we
ton. and then offer Mr.. Thompson
written bids for his farm. the highest
bidder to get it"
Mr. Daw and Mr.. Wallingford re-
tired with their parties.
''There's no use fooling with this
proposition" said Blackie. This man
WallingfOrd is reckless cuss. | could
see that from his eye. l had a good
look at him while we stood there talk
ing. He figures that mere ground is
cheap at any price. and he's going to
bid high to settle it. l propose that
we offer Mr.. Dad cool clean $4,000
and have 1t over with"
Crompers groaned. "Why. there amt
a hundred acre farm in the state worth
that much. Much more than that,
hate to think of Dad Thompson walk
ing off with all that money. He'll take
every cent of it and go away from the
town and buy big wheat farm In Da.
kota. like he's threatened all these
years"
A laugh broke out in Wallingford's
crowd.
"Ha. ha. hav scorned links Woods
Lets go right to it. boys. Make this
sporty offer that my friend Daw sug.
gests, and III give you back all my
stock except 500 worth. want to
save one share partly for luck and
partly so l can kick against the man
agement."
"Gentlemen, MIR. Walingford has his
envelope ready observed Blackie
"We'd better take vote ON this.
They looked. Mr. Wallingford held ;
white envelope in his hand. and he was
smiling confidently. Mr.. Hammond wa
smiling confidently. Mr. Lybarger ant
Mr.. Blessus were smiling confidently
I and so were all the others of the Com
\ mercial club crowd.
"Damn!' remarked Mr.. Crompers %
y vote $4,000"
That vote was unanimous.
Dad Thompson received bid i
= each hand and smiled so broadly tina
his mouth was entirely surrounded b
leathery curves. When he opened tn
bids. however. he stretched those hor
j zontal curves into vertical ones.
"Ho, no. hop he pealed. tits dea
y heat, boys"
"Who gets it?' demanded Jink
y Woods, standing on tiptoe In his cage
7 ness.
= "Nobody. this being Sunday" RI
sponded Dad happily. Anyhow, it's
tie vote; $4,000 apiece. Guess you
\ have to bid again. boys"
4 Both parties wore most mournf'
} faces. The price of land was reachin
an uncomfortably dizzy height. Wa
) lingford looked particularly gloom
n and Blackie called attention to tn:
p fact.
, ".rhey won't 90 much higher"
- confidently asserted.
'They'd better not, or I'll let the
! have it, as far as I'm concerned
N growled Crompers. It'd serve old d.
Thompson right if we'd refuse to b
any more. Anyhow. if this crowd
cides to offer above $4,000 more "
may count me out"
Since Crompers hung to that resol
ton. and since Blackie did not see
anxious to shake his resolve. $50
] more was all they bid. and Wallin
ford's crowd won the contest at $4,000
"lf this was business day I'd tai
= something to bind the bargain" a
nounced Dad. "but. seeing that it ain
if Mr.. Wallingford will just put so1
real cash, say $1,000. in this envelo
with his bid, III open it the first thl
tomorrow morning and do business
And he looked Walingford hard in t
y eye.
II Wallingford, returning that stea
@ gaze critically, finally smiled ana en-
n tied his pocketbook. 1t contained Se
and he obtained the balance from LA
III mond.
Mr.. Wallingford's party was Jublla
\ h,,t Snbar and thnuuhtfnl about it.