human
Not a thing, laughed Keith,
gpt
Five to eight thousand for fifty varas.
human
All right. I've bought ten fifty vara lots at sheriff's sale for five thousand dollars.
gpt
I've heard of that. Your title is no good. The reason you got them so cheaply was that nobody would bid because of that.
human
That's for the courts to decide. The fact remains that I've a title, even though clouded, at $500 per lot.
gpt
Proceed.
human
Well, the commissioners are now advertising a sale of these same lots at auction on the 15th.
gpt
So I see.
human
Well, said Keith softly,
gpt
How so?
human
My title from the sheriff may be clouded, but it will be contested against the title given at that sale. The purchaser will have to defend himself up to the highest court. I can promise him a good fight.
gpt
If that fact could be widely advertised, went on Keith slowly,
human
Now here's my real idea: suppose _I_ buy in against this timid bidding. Suppose _I_ am the one who gets the commissioners' title for $500. Then I have both titles. And I am not likely to contest against myself. It's cost me $1,000 per lot--$500 at each sale--a profit of from $4,000 to $7,000 on each lot.