“There wasn’t any ‘seeming’ about it,” put in Bob. “It was the real article.”
“Yes, I guess it was,” admitted Jerry. “I really couldn’t tell you, now, who won that ball game, and as for nearly running into that auto, I didn’t see it until the last second. I was thinking of something else.”
“Of what?” asked Ned.
“Well, business matters,” explained Jerry. “You know my mother owns considerable property. Some of it is real estate, and more is in bonds and mortgages. Of late some of her investments have turned out poorly.”
“That’s too bad!” exclaimed Ned. “She ought to see my father. He might help her.”
“Oh, well, I don’t think it is as serious as all that,” said Jerry. “But she thinks she will have to sell some of her real estate, and there’s where the tangle comes in.”
“I don’t see what sort of a tangle it can be,” spoke Ned. “We all know her land is quite valuable.”
“That’s just it,” exclaimed Jerry. “If she had received an offer for some of her town lots, or for some of her other real estate holdings that plainly show their worth, I wouldn’t think so much of it. But it’s about that old strip of swamp land she owns.”
“What, down in Ryson’s swamp?” asked Ned, in surprise.