The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-30
Doctor
Egerton
Story of the Pwchase
Of a Country
Place
By JAMES BRAINARD

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A young man pulling a boat on q
New England lake rested on his oars
before plank landing, on which stood
a young woman evidently waiting for
something.
beg PARDON he said to her. 'is
there a road behind those houses up
there leading down to the railroad sta.
ton at Parkville?"
Yes, there is" was the reply.
The young man gazed about him as
though interested in the lay of the land.
He was really interested in the girl.
who was quite comely. He was trying
to think Of some other question to ask
her in order to keep up conversation.
Can you tell me who occupies that
white house up on that crest?" he
asked.
"Dr. Egerton."
There was another pause. The re
plies were so exactly to the point that
they did not invite any further ques-
tOning. However the young man was
not to be dropped.
I'm looking for place like that on
this lake. he said Il wonder If it
could be bought
Il suppose there's hardly piece of
property In the world that cannon be
bought II the purchaser is willing to
give large enough price"
I've looked over all these New Eng
land lakes with view to buying a
summer residence, and like this bit
Of water better than any Of them MY
mother and sister won't 60 to hotels
and don't like them myself We wish
place where We can 60 as soon as
spring opens and stay till late in the
autumn"
The young lady evinced no interest
In the young mans family plans and
made no reply.
That place up there would suit us
exactly" he continued 81 would like
to spend all the rest of my summers
there. The view must he fine"
There would he no harm in your
trying to buy It, said the girl. you
might write note to the owner asking
II any sum you would be prepared to
pay would be accepted
Thank you very much for the sug-
gestion.''
At that moment there We're sounds
Of motorboat engine explosions, and a
launch was seen making for the land
ing. 1t soon pulled up there under care
OF single boatman. The young lady
got aboard and without so much as
look at the Oarsman was carried away.
Mighty fine looking girl he said to
himself, well but plainly dressed and
with an air of being somebody I
wonder who she Is
Jack Aborn was an enormously
wealthy young man. having inherited
the bulk of his fathers property, and
was accustomed to having anything
money could buy that he desired. There
was something unique In the Egerton
place that struck his fancy. He couldn't
very well build such place To begin
with, he couldn't get the site; then 1t
would require half century to grow
the trees. Besides, there was an old
fashioned look about the whole place
that could not be initiated. As the
young lady had said, there would be no
harm In trying to buy 1t, and he re-
solved to drop the owner note asking
II he would consider an offer.
He did so and received reply writ
ten in woman's hand as follows:
DIR. Egerton desires me to acknowledge
the receipt Of your note asking II an offer
Tor this place will be considered and to
say that 1t has been in the Egerton fam
iiy 30 many years that there is at pres
eht no intention on the part of the own
er TO sell IT. However, the doctor would
IKE 10 Know what 1t would bring. Yours
truly. SARAH H MCCARTHY.
Secretary.
Aborn was sufficiently versed In
business methods to waste no further
tlme In correspondence, he called upon
Dr. Egerton for a conference. He was
received by Miss Mccarthy. a middle
aged lady, who told him that the doctor
had gone to the city, but that she (the
secretary had charge Of such business
matters as required attention In the
Doctors absence and had power to act.
Aborn asked what the property would
bring II offered openly for sale, and
Miss Mccarthy said she thought it
would easily sell for $4,000. Where
upon Aborn made an offer Of $4,000
for It The sseRstary said that she
would transmit a. offer to her princi-
pal and would wsite him.
In due time a note came to Aborn
stating briefly that his offer would not
be accepted. He was quite ready to
aise 1t, but did not like dealing through
third party. He called again on the
Doctor, but was again disappointed at
not seeing him. The doctor was at
home, but very busy. Aborn left word
With the secretary that he would raise
bis bid to $4,000
reply to this came to him that as
'onished him. 1t was this:
DR.. Egerton desires me to inform Mr..