Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-26

much DO you o6srT' Al
Mr.. Packington considered carefully
and Immediately raised his bid
"Eighty.nve thousand" he offered with
. vince. He had figured on obtaining
the land for possibly nfty. but II both
Wheeler and Cushman had been after
It an offer Of that size would be use,
less.
II thank you" said Miss Harriet.
rising and smiling sadly at her sister
Martha. who had an increasing pink
glow in her cheeks.
Gam to understand that that price
Is satisfactory" asked Packington.
trying to read Miss Harriet's inscruta-
Bile countenance.
mo" replied Miss Harriet. leading
the way to the door. I'VE shall make
no announcement concerning the prop
erty until we know that 1t 10 ours
MIR. Packington cleared his throat
IL might be able to raise that bid
trile." he suggested hopefully.
1--WE do not care to discuss It Mt the
present moment" she cOolly informed
him.
Last of all came Mr.. Jameson. Of the
Boomville bank. but this was at 8
o'clock that night. Both Miss Harriet
and Miss Martha were sorry to see
him. for; while they had not counted
him at any time as their particular
friend. their particular friends Of the
old regime having mostly died or be.
come very poor. they had always look
ed upon his as trustworthy.
.I've come to bring You some good
news" he began. beaning upon them,
Miss Martha had been biting her
lips. "How much do you offer us! she
inquired. altogether too sweetly.
"Oner you! Why. great Scott. girls.
l wouldn't buy that property from you
at any price. because 1t would be alb
surd in me to buy it unless expected
to make profit. and don't want 1t
from General Smithson's daughters.
came out expressly to warn you not to
sell it to any one. The new railroad
company will give you at least S15O.OOO
for It."
. Miss Martha was almost cryingly
apologize. hut Miss Harriet helped her
to make him understand that he had
started the way all of them had.
II don't blame you minute" he
said. laughing away Martha's poignant
distress. II am very glad to learn. too.
that you did not sell to any Of them"
1--WE could not" Miss Harriet ex.
planned. II believe there's no reason for
further secrecy now. is there. Martha?
81 think not" agreed Martha. ''espe-
cially with an old friend like Mr.. jane
son; besides, Mr.. Wallingford said that
he only asked for discretion until ev.
erything was settled"
."Wallingford: repeated jameson.
Ibid you sell to him?"
Their beaming faces told him that
they had. "For how much?
Miss Harriet and Miss Martha looked
at each other smilingly.
"For a hundred thousand dollars.
We telegraphed him as soon az No
heard the news this afternoon and have
had m answer from him. He u CON-
ing tomorrow to bring US the money
and to get deed for the property"
J "A hundred thousandg protested
Jameson. "Why. he Will sell 1t to the
railroad company for half as much
again! You should never do business
with strangers!' ~. ~.
That admonition was too much for
the gentle Miss Harriet Il am angry"
she said. IAN this day people we
have known for years have been trying
to buy our property for less than the
stranger offered us. Moreover. had it
not been for Mr.. Wallingford. nothing
would have. been done about either
that property or our fathers military
academy for twenty-five years to come.
by which time both my sister and my
self would have been dead, hope. IL
Mr.. Wallingford. after buying the
school property. makes profit Of
$4,000 for himself, as understand
from his telegram that he has. both
my sister Martha and l. who have
discussed the matter thoroughly. only
wish that it was more! Besides" and
she waved her hand in the general
direction Of the huge bouquet of pink
roses. now widely blown and wither.
ing in their third day-"besides. Mr..
Wallingford's father was q friend Of
General Smithson!"
(To Be Contipued.)