The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-04-24
"Old
Curnudgeon"
By DONALD CHAMBERLIN

Belle Hinckley was an orphan with
fortune.
While she was abroad her guardian
wrote her that certain property she
owned. the family homestead, could
he made valuable for certain pur
Dose il there were more of it. If the
adjoining place could be united with it
there would be ample room. Perhaps
the unun could he effected.
Belle had been abroad two years
when this announcement reached her
and would receive her property in a
few months. She resolved to return to
.imelicn and look into the matter for
herself. On her arrival she learned
that the purpose for which the proper
IT, was wanted was large manufac-
turing plant. Those about to establish
It had tried to buy the adjoining prop
erty. but had failed After her depur
tllre for Europe man had bought it
who wouldn't sell. Belle. who had in
hrrited business head from her ia
thpr saw that he was making mis-
take that would involve her as well as
himself.
Th. 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 Il young man
came out to the porch and stood with
his hands in his pockets watching the
approaching girl.
is Mr.. Wilkinson in?" she asked.
mo, be is not"
Can you tell me where | can see
him."
lit is uncertain. Can | be Of service
to you?"
81 wish to see him with regard to
selling his property to 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 he could represent the matter
to the owner of the property and in
vtpd hnr 10 state her ease This she
dad r,lrart ably well the Noling nilIi
listening atlentively, though lie seemed
to he so wrapped in admiration OF
Miss Hinckley that she doubted II he
took in all she said However, after
she had finished he promised to repre-
sent the matter to the owner in fa-
vurnble light. Then he invited her to
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-tha was his name
called two days later and said that.
while he had represented the matter
as she had given it 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 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 property and if the opportunity
We're 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-
deAvor to impress him with this view
OF the case
In II few days Mr. Alexander called
again to report that he had failed to
/ impress the owner ot the property
with the reasons Miss Hinckley had
brought forth and feared that he had
other views for the property. The
matter dragged along The would be
I purchasers We're known to be looking
AT other sites. and Miss Hnckey was
discouraged
The only