My instructions cover only the purchase of this deposit.
I have room for only one operation."
The colonel rose from his chair, steadied himself on the low
window-sill, and looked out across the Tench. The silence was
oppressive--only the ticking of the clock in the next room and the
bees among the flowers outside.
"Wait until I return," he said, crumpling the paper.
In a moment he was back, leading in his aunt by the hand. Miss Nancy
entered with a half-puzzled look on her face, which deepened into
certain anxiety as she began to realize the pronounced formality of
the proceedings. The colonel cleared his throat impressively.
"Nancy, an investigation begun in New York by my dear friend Fitz, and
completed here to-day, results in the discov'ry that what you have
always considered as slight outcroppin's of coal, and wuthless, is
really of vehy great value." The colonel here unbuttoned his coat, and
threw out his chest. "A syndicate of English capitalists have, through
our guest, offered you the sum of one hundred thousand dollars for the
coal-hill, with a royalty of ten cents per ton for every ton mined
over a certain amount, one thousand dollars to be paid now and the
balance on the search of title and signin' of the contract.
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