The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-05-24
LOVES
MESSENGER
BY VICTOR REDcLIFFE

little one-Story building hearing the
sign "Peter Warne, Real Estate"
'Tve come here on flying trip" he
announced, land If yon are able to sell
some property for me I'm ready"
"That is my lire of business" an
swered Warne, shrewdly studying this
straightforward client. If the latter
had been more experienced in the
ways of the world he would have con
strued that false, sinister fare
Here is the layout.r proceeded Dur
yea briskly. my uncle died q few
months ago and was one. of the bene
fciaries under his will. He left me
the Addison tract Do you know it?"
Like a book" declared Warne. ut
lies along the river where they hare
the water rights, and a good many
plants are likely to go up in time"
THAT Is my name" apprfzed the
other. rendering card. 81 understand
from the executors that the property
Is worth perhaps thirty thousand dol
lars. | am willing to take something
less If / can dispose of 1t quickly and
| for ready cash. for I am offered an
| business partnership ifI can invest
| twenty thousand dollars.
A crafty expression crossed Warne's
| face as he rapidly analysed the situa-
ton: A young and impLlsive client
stranger, and likely to be easily i'm
/ posed upon.
"See here" he suggested suppose
4 Of M ri nd al
look at the property. I'm afraid you
will be disappointed"
Duryea was indeed disappointed
when the rafting old buggy driven by
Warne reached a broad. deep river.
"There's your land" spoke the lat
ter, pointing out a desolate stretch.
low and swampy. Beyond In both d.
; rections were high lands. but this spe
cial expanse made a deplorable slump
In the landscape.
: "You talk of. thirty thousand dol
iars.". spoke Warne. SWELL. in twenty
years and after a fortune spent in
drainage you might get ten-never
more"
All the spice and ambition suddenly
! deserted Allen Duryea. His high hopes
were crushed. He stood ruefully view
Ing the uninviting spot.
f at looks just as you say" he admit
ted gloomily. 81 reckon will have to
begin business life on more modest
scale than had blocked ont. You've
got my address. See what you ran get
for the property. Fly the way there
Is no train cityward for several hours
! I understand"
That's correct" nodded Warne
n you could make II by walking two
i miles east and striking trolley" and
V he drove off. while Duryea thought
r. fully proceeded on foot. He had gone
about a mile when. passing small
cabin. he paused to view an old man
n in tears, directing q pitiful appeal tn
lie another, who was reading to him an
offcial-looking document.
: "1'm sorry to distraIn. Mr.. Marsh
spoke the latter. 'but law is law. You
owe fifty dollars and there's judg-
ment against You. If you can't pay II
- shall have to levy on your rig"
in You take the bread out Of ON
mouths IL you dor sobbed Gabriel
d Marsh, and just there Duryea stepped
in up to the official.
"Tve q little surplus cash." he said
of land this old mans honest face is gooi
in enough for me- Write out release
will pay the BILL"
he ooh, wait till my daughter comes
m pleaded Marsh. when he had recoveret
y. from the first access of gratitude an,
ly Joy. "She Is Mabel. and I want Il
US have her see and thank the strange
ID who has rescued us from ruin. oh
sirl you have an old mans ferven
blessing. There is Mabel now" an,
=, the speaker ran down the road to NEE
II a young girl. Duryea sought vainIy I
:. escape the overwhelming gratefulnes
II of father and daughter For the lat
II ter. modest. refined. sincere. he forme
II an immediate admiration. drawn close
II as he heard the story of their strue
II giles to keep the wolf from the door.
II He did not readily forget Mahe
M when he returned to the city. Nor
of than once he felt drawn to go aga
led to Rossville. and was glad of an e,
mt cuse when one day he received lette
ne a purchaser of the river tract for for
ne' thousand dollars. Duryea was gettin
;eh ready to go to RosSvile when Mab'
nr Marsh entered his office.
81 have come on strange missior
ain Mr.. Duryea." spoke the young CIR
EN- "We learned of your errand to RIOS
eet Vile after you had gone. and faiths
"! overheard conversation betwee
ma Warne and his clerk which Shove
that they had plan on foot to swind
lerl sou' va" .'ie -.
ofI worth q great deal of money. Instea
see he had plot to get your proper
tn from you for song and sell it Fl
tol an immense sum-"
ost 81 have come to close our deal f
ny the forty thousand dollars" announc,