Part 20 (1/2)
”No, I cannot quite see that,” he said at last; ”the actual t.i.tle is in the city. It owns its property. You gentlemen do not claim to own it, as individuals. You have delegated to you the power to pa.s.s t.i.tle, just as the sheriff and one or two others have that power; but you have not the _sole_ power.”
”We have advice that t.i.tle conveyed under this judgment will be invalid.”
”That is a matter for the courts to settle.”
”The courts----” began Hooper explosively, but Geary overrode him.
”If all the creditors of the city were to adopt the course pursued by Doctor Jones, the city would soon be bankrupt of resources.”
”That is true,” agreed Keith.
”Then cannot I appeal to your sense of civic patriotism?”
”Gentlemen,” replied Keith, ”you seem to forget that in this matter I am not acting for myself, but for a client. If it were my affair, I might feel inclined to discuss the matter with you more in detail. But I am only an agent.”
”But----” interrupted Hooper again.
”That is quite true,” interjected James King of William.
”Well, we shall see your client,” went on Geary, ”But I might state that on the side of his own best interests he would do well to go slow.
There is at least a considerable doubt as to the legality of this sale.
It is unlikely that people will care to bid.”
After some further polite conversation they took their leave. Keith quickly discovered that the opinion held by the commissioners was shared by most of his friends. They acknowledged the brilliance of his legal victory, admired it heartily, and congratulated him; but they considered that victory barren.
”n.o.body will buy; you won't get two bits a lot bid,” they all told him.
Little Doctor Jones came to him much depressed. The commissioners had talked with him.
”Do you want my advice?” asked Keith, ”Then do this: stick to your guns.”
But little Jones was scared.
”I want my money,” said he; ”perhaps I'd better take those bonds after all.”
”Look here,” suddenly said Keith, who had been making up his mind.
”I'll guarantee you the full amount in cash, within, say, two weeks, but only on this condition: that you go out now, and spread it about everywhere that you are going to stand pat. Tell 'em all you are going to push through this sale.”
”How do I know----”
”Take a chance,” interrupted Keith. ”If at the end of two weeks I don't pay you cash, you can do what you please. Call off the sheriff's sale at the last minute; I'll pay the costs myself. Come, that's fair enough. You can't lose a cent.”
”All right,” agreed Jones after a minute.
”Remember: it's part of the bargain that you state everywhere that you're going to force this sale, and that you don't let anybody bluff you.”
The affair made quite a little stir. Men like Sam Brannan, d.i.c.k Blatchford, the contractor, and Jim Polk discussed Keith and his ability.