United States or Austria ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
He might be willing to do something as crooked as that, but he wouldn't be so foolish. Understand? "It would be taking too big a risk. He'd be afraid that his political opponents would get next. If they did, they'd get some swindled buyer to start action against him, just before an election. My guess is that Fairclothe doesn't know a thing about what this tract is.
"The future in this country belongs to the producer; I recommend this investment to my fellow citizens. Lafayette Fairclothe, United States Senator." It was worth millions.
It's rich, black muck, three feet deep in spots. I see profit of $100 an acre within a year." "Hm," said Senator Fairclothe. "As much as that?" "That's the minimum." "You will make a hundred dollars on our land the land you've purchased, I should say?" "As soon as I get it drained, yes, sir." Senator Fairclothe tugged again at his beard.
A county judge would be only slightly larger, and so on, up through state legislatures, the governor, congressman, state supreme court judges, and even up and into the sacred precincts of the United States Senate in the person of Senator Fairclothe.
The old man stroked his white beard nervously. His eyes shifted uneasily toward Payne. "Oh! pardon my negligence," exclaimed the girl. "This is Mr. Payne, father. He's purchased a lot of land down here. Mr. Payne, this is my father, Senator Fairclothe." Payne bowed automatically. He was dumbfounded for a moment, but in a flash his self-control had returned.
Connors, the lawyer, was Senator Fairclothe's law partner; Fairclothe had been anxious to see the tract drained. "Oh, my God!" he groaned, "Are they that rotten!" "But you had the title searched before you bought?" said Higgins. "Of course. Right back to the first Spanish land grant, and there wasn't a flaw in it." "Then those fellows are stung." "Pooh! Those cheap toughs.
"Well," said Roger, "I think there is something in this that will interest people bigger than you or I or the state of Florida. I think the United States Government is due to become interested down here." The suspicion of a smile curved the corners of Garman's mouth. There was a moment of pregnant silence; then Senator Fairclothe said impressively: "I represent the United States Government, sir."
The silence that followed was broken by Annette's laughter. "What very pretty conduct!" she said. Senator Fairclothe thrust out his chest pompously. Garman being gone he saw himself as the dominant personality present. "Men of great affairs, my dear Annette, cannot permit attention to the petty details of conduct to disturb their purpose when a crisis presents itself.
"Lo, Payne!" drawled Garman. "Come up out of the sun. You look all heated up." He looked down at Roger, a smile on his lips as he noted the tenseness of the young man's expression. "Worrying about something, Payne? Ideals been shattered? Ambition, love Where's Annette, by the way?" His chuckle rose to rumbling laughter. Senator Fairclothe caught the black-clad stranger's eye and nodded stiffly.
But how you a man?" "Annette," called Mrs. Livingstone, "will you please come in?" The meal that followed was a ghastly affair. One figure there alone would have served to cast gloom over the table. Senator Fairclothe sat crumpled in his chair, his white Vandyke beard crushed on his breast, looking ridiculously helpless. He had shrunk from his daughter's words.
Word Of The Day