Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-08-14
Doctor
Egerton
Story of the Purchase
of a Country
Place
By JAMES BRAINARD

! By JAMES BRAINARD q
<>>>>>>>>>>><>><<<<<<<<<<i
A young man pulling a boat on q
New England lake rested on his oars
before a plank landing, on which stood
q young woman evidently waiting for
something.
beg pardon" he said to her, us
there q 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" ht
asked.
"Dr. Egerton."
There was another pause. The n
plies were SO exactly to the point that
they did not invite any further ques-
tioning. However, the young man was
not to be dropped.
I'm looking for place like that On
this lake. he said. II wonder II 1t
could be bought"
Il suppose there's hardly q piece OF
property In the world that cannot be
bought II the purchaser Is willing to
give large enough price,"
"Pve looked over all these New Eng
land lakes with a view to buying a
summer residence, and like this bit
Of water better than any Of them. My
mother and sister won't 90 to hotels.
and don't like them myself. We wish
d place where We can 90 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. II would like
to spend all the rest Of my summers
there. The view must be flne."
'There would be no harm In your
trying to buy It," said the girl. "You
might write note to the owner asking
If any sum you would be prepared to
pay would be accepted"
THANK you very much for the sug.
gestion."
At that moment there were sounds
Of motorboat engine explosions, and
launch was seen making for the land
Ing. It soon pulled up there under care
Of a single boatman. The young lady
got aboard and without so much as a
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 /
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 It
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 it, 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:
| Dr. Egerton desires me to acknowledge
| the receipt Of your note asking II an oner
| for this place will be considered and to
say that 1t has been in the Egerton fam
lily 30 many years that there Is at pres
ent no intention on the part Of the own
| er to sell It However, the doctor would
truly, SARAH II. MCCARTHY,
| Secretary.
Aborn was sufficiently yersed in
business methods to waste no further
time in correspondence; he called upon
DR.. Egerton for a conference. He was
received by Miss Mccarthy, 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 n 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 1t
would easily sell for $4,000. Where
upon Aborn made an offer OF $4,000
for 1t. The secretary said that she
would transmit the offer to her princi-
pal and would write him.
In due time q note came to AbOrn
stating briefly that his offer would not
be accepted. He was quite ready to
raise 1t, but did not like dealing through
q third party. He called again on the
doctor, but was again disappointed at
not seeing him. The doctor was ut
home, but very busy. Aborn left word
with the secretary that he would raise
his bid to $4,000.
| A repl. to this came 70 him tnat as
| tonished him. It was this:
| Dr. Egerton desires me to inform Mr..
Aborn that. inquiries having been made
q to his financial standing and his abil-
| ity to pay for any purchase he nigh'
make. the responses are perfectly salts
factory. But the doctor has also been
informed that Mr.. Aborn Is one OF those
young men who. having Inherited large
| means, think they can acquire anything
| they fancy. Surely there n no property
without price. but the price on the Eyer
ton place is IN proportion % Mr.. Aborn's
enormous fortune II 10 enormously high
Yours truly. SARAH H. MCCARTHY.
Aborn was not only astonished at this
reply; be was mad. At Hrst be deter.
mined TO drop the matter IN contemp
tuous silence, but he was too iritated
TO do this. Besides, he was curious 70
discover what sort Of man, this doctor
was who would 60 30 Gar out Of bis
way to insult q man whose only fault
was Q desire to POSSESS the Egerton
homestead. He Determined to make
one more effort 90 see him He called.
but again was obliged to be content
with seeing the secretary. the doctor
having again gone to the city on I'M
portant business.
"Is this DOCTOR" be asked In an irrir
tAted tone. - regularly educated ply.
sician or . quAckr tt
"Dr. Egerton n something higher
L "a. ~toA a