“I’ve told him. I am worried sick over it. But he refuses to move.”
“Let’s send him a wire now,” suggested Jim.
In five minutes the message in cipher was on the way.
“Definite information banks closing down immediately with loans on realty. Mortgagees not renewing. Advise prompt sale. Wire lowest prices.”
The reply came in an hour and a half.
“Think information canard. Sell Remington Ranch eighty thousand dollars, Pedloe Ranch fifty thousand dollars, Bonnington Ranch forty thousand dollars.”
Phil and Jim scoured the town, but there were no buyers at the figures, for they were rocket-high.
They wired again, quoting best offers, but no answer came that afternoon.
On the day following, Graham Brenchfield, stout and prosperous-looking as ever, stepped inside the office for the first time, as bold as brass too.