Part 34 (2/2)

”Is therein real estate just now?” he asked

”There will be soon Thenew develop land in the bench country Thatlots?”

”My line's dressed lu booood trade?”

”Talks as if he was going to, but he hasn't begun yet,” the clerk replied with a smile that hinted that he had expected the inquiry

”Then he hasn't been here long?”

”Only came into toeek since,” said the clerk, rather dryly

”When things look like hu

But you want to go slohen you deal with a real-estate man, unless you know all about hihtfully, ”as a rule, that's true Thank you, anyhow”

He went back to his seat and lighted his pipe again He had learned that Telford was a stranger and had apparently thought it advisable to account for his visiting the town Foster saw that he ought to have guessed the felloas not a resident when he asked for his mail, because had he been in business in the city he would have had his private box at the post office Moreover he iined that the clerk knew he really wanted to find out soht him cluenuous look, which was rather an advantage, since it suited the part he meant to play He did not want people to think hi to be dull Re his mistakes, he ser of this By and by Telford ca thisand the street's all areed His only business was to find out Telford's, and the iven him an opportunity The pool room is an institution in Canadian towns, but is not, as a rule, ood They had no trouble in getting a table and began to play for a small stake, which Telford insisted on Foster did not know ames, but he had a steady hand and, somewhat to his surprise, won Telford, who raised the stake, won the next game, but was afterwards beaten

In the aled others He was not steady enough, but on the whole Foster iined he meant to let hi a co hih for this

”Well,” said Telford, ”I guess you're too good for ain another day”

”What you want to do is to let up on the drinks the night before,”

re by ”If you were as cool and steady as he is, you'd beat hiood-hu to make expenses this trip?” he asked

”I can't say yet,” Foster replied ”Anyhow, you don't lose ular line”

”Well, if you feel like speculating in building lots, I a on unused land was popular in Canada, in spite of taxes planned to prevent it, and while there are respectable real estate agents, the fringe of the profession is occupied by sharpers who prey upon what is fast becoers with money to invest are often swindled, and there was an obviousto cultivate his acquaintance On the whole, however, he did not think the fellow h he was perhaps willing that Foster should suspect hie hiot,” he reo up----”

The other followed the lead and talked about city extension and the develop land He see to think his suspicions mistaken when Telford carelessly interpolated a few adroit questions about his usual occupation The questions were difficult to ansithout telling more than it was advisable that the other should know, or, as equally to be avoided, showing that Foster was on his guard He was now nearly sure that the felloas an accomplice of Daly's, and the line he had resolved on would be difficult

He had to deal with a clever rogue who probably knew so about him and meant to find outto pose as an unsophisticated simpleton; he must, so to speak, play up to the fellow and persuade him that any suspicions he entertained were about the latter's designs upon his money With this object, he disputed some of Telford's opinions and presently proved a state

Telford looked eht he did it very well