Part 21 (2/2)
Neil's eye went cold.
”I've heard of that. Your t.i.tle is no good. The reason you got them so cheaply was that n.o.body would bid because of that.”
”That's for the courts to decide. The fact remains that I've a t.i.tle, even though clouded, at $500 per lot.”
”Proceed.”
”Well, the commissioners are now advertising a sale of these same lots at auction on the 15th.”
”So I see.”
”Well,” said Keith softly, ”it strikes me that whoever buys these lots then is due for a heap of trouble.”
”How so?”
”My t.i.tle from the sheriff may be clouded, but it will be contested against the t.i.tle given at that sale. The purchaser will have to defend himself up to the highest court. I can promise him a good fight.”
Neil was now watching him steadily,
”If that fact could be widely advertised,” went on Keith slowly, ”by way of a threat, so to speak, it strikes me it would be very apt to discourage bidding at the commissioners' sale. n.o.body wants to buy a lot of lawsuits, at any price. In absence of compet.i.tion, a fifty vara lot might be sold for as low as--say $500.”
Neil nodded, Keith leaned forward.
”Now here's my real idea: suppose _I_ buy in against this timid bidding. Suppose _I_ am the one who gets the commissioners' t.i.tle for $500. Then I have both t.i.tles. And I am not likely to contest against myself. It's cost me $1,000 per lot--$500 at each sale--a profit of from $4,000 to $7,000 on each lot.”
He leaned back. Malcolm Neil sat like a graven image, no expression showing on his flintlike face nor in his eyes. At length he chuckled harshly. Then, and not until then, Keith proceeded:
”But that isn't all. There's plenty more scrip afloat. If you can buy up as much of it as you can sc.r.a.pe together, I'll get judgment for it in the courts, and we can enlarge the deal until somebody smells a rat.
We need several things.”
”What?”
”Secrecy.”
Neil made no reply, but the lines of his mouth straightened.
”Influence to push matters along in official circles.”
”Matters will be pushed along.”
”A newspaper.”
”Leave that to me.”
”Agents--not known to be connected with us.”
Neil nodded.
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