The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-12-25

Was he trifling1 No. his eyes were
frank and serious.
You mean it7"
''Of course Now, Til put you onto
something. and it's the biggest thing
that has been pulled of yet. There's
a section Of land lying right against
the city limits that is owned by a fell
low over I'm England; remittance man
who fell heir to an estate and had to
go home to spend it. I am arranging
through a London Office to offer him
ten dollars an acre, and I'll bet he
| jumps at IT. I've arranged for the nee
| essary credits. but there will be some
| expenses for cables, etc, and you can
put your hundred into that. If we pull
it Off-and we will pull il olive start
up in business as Coward & Elden,
or Eden & Coward. whichever
sounds better Boy, there's a fortune
in It."
what do you figure it's worth ?"
said Dave, trying to speak easily.
twenty-five dollars an acre?"
twenty-five dollars an acre %
Coward shouted. Dave, newspaper
routine has killed your Imagination.
Twenty-Five dollars an acre! Listen
'EThe city boundaries are to be ex-
tended-prObably will be by the time
this deal goes through. Then it is city
property. A Street-raiiway system is
to be built and We'll see that it runs
through our land. We may have to
grease somebody, but it's a poor en-
gineer that saves on grease. Then we'll
survey that section into twenty-five
foot iOts-and We'll sell them at two
hundred dollars each for those nearest
the city down to one hundred for those
farthest Out-average one hundred and
ffty-tOtal nine hundred and sixty
thousand dollars. Allow, say, sixty
thousand for grease and there is still
nine hundred thousand, and that
doesn't count resale commissions
Dave, it's good for a cool million"
Dave was doing rapid thinking. Sud-
denly he faced Coward and their eyes
met Coward" he said, "you don't
need my little hundred to put this
over. Why do you let me in on it?"
Coward smiled and breathed easily
There had been a moment of tension
"Oh, that's simple" he answered. 81
figure We'll travel well IL double har-
ness. I'm a good mixer-I know peo-
ple-and I've got ideas. And you're
sound and honorable and people trust
you"
Thanks" said Dave, dryIy.
That's right" Coward continued.
We'll be combination hard to beat"
Dave had never felt sure of Con-
ward, and now he felt less sure than
ever. But the lust of easy money was
beginning to stir within him. The bill
In his hands represented more than
three weeks wages. Coward was
making money-Inaking money fast,
and surely here was an opportunity
such as comes once In a lifetime
'rn go you" he said to Coward, at
last. ''TII risk this hundred. and a
little more. If necessary"
Good" said Coward, springing to
his feet and taking Dawes hand in a
warm grasp. "NOw we're away. But
you better play safe. Stick to your pay
check here until we pull the deal
through. There won't be much to do
until then, anyway, and you can help
more by guiding the paper along right
lines"
''It sounds like a fairy tale" Dave
demurred, as though unwilling to cred
it the possibilities Coward had out
lined you're sure it can be done?"
Done? Why. son, 1t has been done
In all the big centers In the States, and
at many place that'll never be a CEN
ter at all And 1t will be done here
Dave, bigger things that you dare
dream Of are looming up right ahead"