Year: 1860

"'lt VIII only De needee temporarily,
he answered, as bait for thkIug big fish.
And he smiled in way that did not
strike me as pleasant.


"'Explain youself fully now said,
and he went on,


"'There is piece Of wild land in the
interior Of this State, which has been
owned for years by two eld-rly maiden
sisters, who long ago. were sick of pay
ing taxes on property that yielded 20 in
come The tract inc udes nearly two
thousand acres. and was bought originally
at one dullar and halt an acre. 1t can
be had to-day for three dollars an acre. l
know the parties who own it, and they
are now, as they have been for years,
anxious to turn this property into money,
which can be invested and insure an an
nual interest. They are advancing in
life, and prefer present certainty to
large hopes in the future | have known
Of the existence Of this property for some
tise, and have had itching fingers toward
it, because | felt satisfied from its loca-
ton that it must contain valuable miner
al depoSits-coal or iron Perhaps both
Last week ran up into the region where
it was situated, and getting skilled man
in the neiehborhood, spent two days in a
careful examination of the entire tract.
The result more than confirmed my ex
pectation. Coal crops outin many places,
specimens Of which | brought away. 1t
proves, on testing, to be of superior quail
ity. Moreover, railroad is now in the
course of construction, which will pass
within three miles of the land. Why,
Mr.. Martin, this whole tract could be
sold for hundred thousand d,llars in an
hour, if its value was known in the mar
ket as | know it Now, what | require
to gain possession is the money. But
unfortunately am poor | know twenty
men who would clutch at the opportunity
# joining me in the purchase, and put
down the cash at word but I'm afraid
TO trust them with my secret. And this
is why come to you If you can fur
nish the means required, one half of the
land is yours. | have already seen 'he
old ladies, and they are ready to sell tie
property fer six thusand dollars one half
cash and the balance in six and twelve
months payments. Tie thing must be
done quickly, or they may get an iukling
of the truth What do you say Mr. Mar
tin? You can sell out vour interest in a
week for fifty thousand dollars. -


Now this man was not scheming
visionary, who got rich on paper twenty
times year. but a cool shrew3 person,
who understood entirely what he was
about If he had spent two days on t e
property referred to, in company with ar
expert, the report he made as to coal de-
posits might be fully relied uron. Here,
then, was a way Of escape made plain to
me. had but to raise the sum Of three
thousand dollars, which my credit would
enable me to do and told my portion of
this land until we could make It's value
known | was on The point of thanking
him for the offer Of share in so promi>-
ing an enterprise. and saying that | would
90 in with him Of course, when this
question came into my mind Is it right
to take advantage of the ignorance of
these old ladies, and get possession Of
their property at mere 1.-THE Cf its real
worth ? The question disturbed me
considerably, aud endcavored 10 put it
out of my mind. But i, kept repeating
itself, and growing more and more intru,
Slve ever moment.


"'What do yor say asked the man,
breaking IN upon my long, hestating si
lence.


L" In one hour | will give you an ans
wer, said |.


This would afford me time to look at
the subject on all sides. The temptation,
under the dreadful pressure Of my cir
cnnistancss, was very great. In either
of the previous trdcals through which |
passed wou d have yielded with scarce
ly struggle But | coud not see, now.
that way Of escape like his was defen,
sib!e in any clear a<peco Of Christian
morality. 1t was taking advantage Of my
better information to obtain valuable
properly for most trifing consid, ration.
Would this BE- in harmony with the Gol.
den Rule? Would there be justice and
judgment in the act? Was it a deed
that any good conscience could bear on
ward to the closing of life, and not feel
its pressure as burden growing heavier?
As dwelt on the subject nv mind grew
excited and eager. On the one hand
was inevitable ruin-my affairs were so
near a crisis that hope had given way );
on the other, fortune as large as | had
ever asked for lay within my reach, and
had only to put rth my hanl an take
it-oR v to put forth my hand and save
myself from disaster and my creditors
from loss. Then came the additional ar
gunent that my refusal to accept the