The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-06
A Great Speculation

mi Crushing the paper he dashed it violently
to the floor and stamped as far as the
y window.
That's it-go on" jeered Mrs. Weekes
triunphantly. Show your nasty temper. Show
all the neighbors what pretty tace you keep for
closed"
resumed with profound satisfaction, stabbing away
bands Utmost soul; AN Authenticated potterer
that could settle to anything more than two
n1inutes-not even newspaper
This last malicious Misrepresentation of facts
nearly caused Mr.. Weekes to choke himself. but
hi: s KEPT t5e1e on Mr. PaItyns she said with
note of admiration which made her husband writhe.
"If it had been him that had bought that plot
"Confound and hang it all, woman" shouted
MI Weekes, unable to keep silence any longer
Am never to have moments peace in my own
house? The lands land. amt it? 1t can't fly
If there was one thing he could not stand being
forever flung in his face, it his model neghbor
Parkyns and if there another, i was that in
ferna half acre OF thistle-grown chit that under
payne and the persuasive eloquence OF seaside
land company's auctioneer, he had once been ass
The place was Beachington-on-sea; the lot
corner one, fronting Marine Parade and Pros
sion high class hotel"
At the time of purchase the Marine Parade
d
Prospect Terrace, however, afforded slightly bet
ter indication of the possibilities of the position,
being occupied already by row OF odoriferous
piggeries which quickly earned reputation for
the place
but little extra Imagination to picture the whole
expanse of cliff covered with hotels and handsome
residences, and Beachington-on,Sea the most fash
ionable seaside resort on the whole coast
That necessary. degree of imagination having
been stimulated already at the free lunch preced-
ing the sale. Mr.. Weekes bid feverishly and with
regrettable results. Mrs Weekes had never allow
ed him to forget the unfortunate transaction from
that day this.
What had happened to the wretched place even
she had given up trying to discover. A few jerry
built houses had been run up, Mr.. Weekes had
to 60 and see Ali he knew was that the promised
land boom" had proved hopeless hzzle' and all
he asked was to be allowed to cut his losses ana
be left in peace .
Luck was against him. however Here in the
newspaper this morning was the accursed name as
plain as print could make it.
Mrs. Weekes had been the first to discover 1t,
IT'S no good saying why don't people write to
you. Why don't you go down and look at the
place, and take me with you" she demanded
"Pr'aps it's forgotten who the plot belongs to-
P'r'aps there's been hotel-keepers waiting for
years"
But Mr. Weeks could stand more Snatch
ing up the paper in despair he staggered into the
back yard and sank down in the shade OF the FOWL
house. :,
Scarcely had he had time to digest the first half,
dozen words, however, than his eyes bulged and
the pipe stem snapped between ms teen fr,d that
i'll starred name staring him in the face He could
scarcely credit his senses.
"Beachngton-on-Sea. Day Excursion. Low Kate,
ran thu railway company's advertisements
With yelp of anger he leaPed to his feet and
up and down the back yard until he awoke to the
fact that half the neighbors had their heads out
of the windows watching him, wnereupon he SUNK
into the coal shed.
The advertisement haunted him. nevertheless
At last he emerged and fishing out, out the g6 o
NJ" il read There was just time to catch the
"Em'ly," he said hoarsely putting his head in
at the back door we'll 60 today. Put your bon
Mrs. Weekes rounded her eyes with astonish-
ment Won1an-like, she suspicious OF sur
render She would have liked time to CONSIDER the
position in all its phases but this was denied her
Twenty minutes later saw Mr.. Weekes and his
wife in their Sunday best, trotting down the street
to the station
Two hours of -sufocation in crowded pas
senger coach and then Beachington at last
A gasp of astonishment broke from Mr.. W9ekes
years ago the place had been mere Golleetion o,
pig-styes and fishing huts Now-well, there was
nS doubt about it, Bsa'A'ns'0n-0n-ss@ n''
A Swiss cafe confronted them in the very sta
ton yard. Stufy little villas with lodging CARDS
in every fanlight, lined the road aggresslveiy. II
Mrs Weekes who had inbibed all her knowl-
edge of the place from her husbands melancholy
description, was even more amazed. Ihey 9ur-
ried on through the GREATNESS heat scarcely OAR,
ing to speak, lest the spell should be broken and
the mirage fade
There were actually lights and pavements. The
houses, too, they neared the sea grew more and
more luxurious. A gilt sky-sign glitterng against
fierce blue sky proclaimed Royal Hotel be-
meath. Mr.. Weekes had to stop at pillar-box to
steady himself.
1T can't be the place. There must be some mis-
take?" he protested family.
Mistake Fiddlestcks" said Mrs. Weekes
stoutly. why, you read out the name yourself on
"Yes' but NV plot of land Where is it," gasp
ed Mr. Weekes, staring about him in blank bewild-
erment.
"Why, you IDIOT where else hut where It was" "
retorted his wife, then added almost gently, oh,
Thomas Thomas! What a born fool you've been
to let the grass grow under your feet like this.