“You see,” Duke goes on, “I’m supposed to inspect it and make a decision before the option expires, which will be day after to-morrow. The fact is, I’ve been putting off going down there, and now I find I’ve a winter house party on, up in Lenox, and—— Well, you see the box I’m in.”
“Sure!” says I. “You want me to sub for you at Lenox?”
“Deuce take it, no!” says Duke. “I want you to go down and look at that land for me.”
“Huh!” says I. “What I know about real estate wouldn’t——”
“Oh, that’s all right,” says Duke. “It’s only a matter of form. The boys say they want it, and I’m going to buy it for them anyway; but, just to have it all straight and businesslike, either I ought to see the land myself, or have it inspected by my personal representative. Understand?”
“Duke,” says I, “you’re a reg’lar real estate Napoleon. I wouldn’t have believed it was in you.”
“I know,” says he. “I’m really surprised at myself.”
Next he explains how he happened to think of sendin’ me, and casually he wants to know if a couple of hundred and expenses will be about right for spoilin’ two days of my valuable time. How could I tell how much it would lose me? But I said I’d run the chances.
Then Chick shows up, and they begin to talk over the details of this new bungalow boom town that’s to be located on the Jersey side.
“I tell you,” says Chick, “it’ll be a winner from the start. Why, there’s every advantage anyone could wish for,—ocean breezes mingled with pine scented zephyrs, magnificent views, and a railroad running right through the property! The nearest station now is Clam Creek; but we’ll have one of our own, with a new name. Clam Creek! Ugh! How does Pinemere strike you?”