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title, see deed from J.B. Wick, dates September 30, 1968, recorded with said Deeds in Book 9238, Page 235." |
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That meant nothing to him. A cipher of ancient history. |
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But a thought rose up in his mind from a place all but forgotten. |
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His eyes dropped to the line at the top of the third page: "I, Anna I. Samborsky as sole tenant of Carleton . . . grant to . . . said land being on the Southerly side of Jason Road as shown in Lot 6 . . . in full consideration of $72,000.00." |
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Seventy-two thousand dollars. The woman had all but given the house away. When he had signed the purchase and sale agreement, he remembered asking Beverly Otis why the low price. |
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She had shrugged and said there was a minor liability because the land had at one time been used for commercial storage. Besides, the woman was a grieving old widow whose husband and dog had died the same day. She had wanted out, and fast. |
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"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth." |
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It's nothing, she had said. |
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Nothing, he had told himself. |
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Still nothing, he thought, and left. |
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