Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-22

round to Mr.. Dowllng, facing him
squarely.
"You will understand, sir" he con-
cluded. that n scheme such as nave
pointed out could only be carried through
II the whole of the property were IN one
PERSONS hands. I may say that the IN
formation to which you referred a few
days ago was perfectly correct a con-
siderable portion of the south side OF the
hill has already been purchased, besides
certain other plots which would interfere
considerably with any comprehenslVe
scheme of building"
Mr.. Dowling's face fell at once; his tone
was one of annoyance mingled with irrl'
tation
"Come, COME he declared. 'this sounds
very bad, Mr.. Tavernake, very neglectful,
very careless as to the interests of the
firm. Why did we not keep our eye upon
It? Why did we not forstall this other
purchaser, eh? 1t appears to me that
we have been slack, very slack indeed"
Tavernake took a small book from his
pocket.
"You will remember. SIR" he said,
that 1t was on the eleventh of May last
year when first spoke to you of this
site"
"Wel, WELL" Mr.. Dowling exclaimed
sharply, what of it,"
you were starting out for a fortnight's s
golf somewhere" Tavernake continued,
land you promised to look into the affair
when you returned. I spoke to you
again, but you declared that you were far
too busy to go into the matter at all
for the present. you didn't care about this
side of London, you considered that we
had enough on hand-in fact. you threw
cold water upon the idea"
II may not have been very enthusiastic
at first" Mr.. Bowling admitted, grudg-
ingly. "Latterly however, L have come
round to your views"
There have been several articles in
talk" Tavernake remarked, which have
been more effectual. think in bring
ing you round, than my advice. How
ever, what I wish to say to you is this.
sir. that when l found myself unable to
interest you in this scheme, went into It
myself to some extent"
went into it yourself?" Mr.. Dowling
repeated. incredulously what do you
mean, Tavernake? What do you mean.
sIr?'-
"I mean that I have invested my saw
ings In the purchase OF several plots OF
land upon this hillside" Tavernake ex-
planned.
"on your own account" Mr., Dowling
demanded. Your savings. indeedw
Certainly" Tavernake answered.
why not?"
"But it's the firms business, sir-the
FIRMS. not yoursl'
'"rhe firm had the opportunity" Taver-
make pointed out, "and were not inclined
to avail themselves OF 1t. II / had not
bought the land when did, some one
else would have bought the whole OF It
long ago."
Mr. Bowling was obviously in furious
temper.
"Do you mean to tell me. sir" he ex-
claimed. that you dared TO enter into
private speculations while still an em-
ploye OF the hrm2 II Is a most unheard-
OF thing, unwarrsnted. ridiculous. 1 shall
require you, sir, to at once make over
the plots OF land to us-to the firm, you
understand. We shall give you your
price, of course, although I expect you
paid much more for It than we should
have done. Still. we must give you what
you paid, and four per cent interest for
your money"
Il am sorry." TaveTnake replied, abut
/ am afraid that / should require better
terms than that. In fact" he continued,
'T do not wish 10 sell. / have given a
great deal OF thought ana time TO this
matter, and / intend to carry Il out as
q personal speculation"
''rhen you wiil carry II out. sir, from