Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-05-30
FOR SALE, OR TO LET.

FOR SALE, OR TO LET.
1t wanted just four weeks to the LIST
of May, and the ~real-estate agent sat in
his little wooden sentry-box, his chair
tipped back against the wall, his feet
skillfully poised on the edgeof his desk,
while his eyes were fixed pensively on q
swinging cobwed on the ceiling over
head.
Cuisines is awful dull this year."
said the real-estate agent. "Never
knew it so stagnant."
"We've only let thirteen houses and
sold two this season." said his clerk,
who performed the additional duties of
office boy, and sold Goals and wood on
commission, and who was just now sur
reptitiously reading a novel behind the
Eat folds of the ledger.
"And them two sales wasn't sales
they vas nothing but exchanges"
sighed the agent.
Folks must move," said Eben Joyce.
the clerk, with cheerful alacrity.
"Then why amt they about it?" said
MI. Pratt, the ~real-estate agent.
At that very moment, however, a
shadow darkened the square of yellow
April sunshine that was doing it's best
to gild the unswept floor. Aportly old
gentleman, with a gold-headed cane, a
buff waistcoat and a clean-shaved
double chin, stood on the threshold.
els this Mr.. Philo Pratt's ofice?' said
he.
The r~eal-estate agent scrambled to
his feet at once. "Your most obedient,
SIR" said he, while the clerk pocketed
the novel and tried to look very busy,
indeed. elbow can Ihave the pleasure
Of serving you?"
"I'm going to move," said the
stranger.
"Indeed!" said the agent, busily
rubbing his hands together.
"Tm from New York." explained
the old gentleman. my name is
Drake. I'm tired of the city, and l
contemplate an entire change of loca-
ton"
"Just so." said the agent. ga most
excellent idea"
"And," added Mr.. Drake, "Iwish to
rent a desirable residence for one year,
with the privilege of purchasing. Can
you recommend any such?"
Joyce" said MI. Pratt, catching up
his hat, harness the horse at once, and
see that the buggy top is properly busted
off and the wheels free of mud. Any
such, my dear sir? Scores of such.
The neighborhood of AMMAN Water is,
sc to speak, alive with EN-"
But late in the afternoon the old
hnyoo md hi- +1ro noa,.c m mn In a11
weary and dispirited. Not one of the
desirable places" shown by MI. Pratt
had suited the stout old gentleman's ca
PRECIOUS fancy.
''I'm sure, sir, Idon't know what
more you can ask" said the real estate
agent, almost in despair.
II can't make you comprehend my
idea," said the old gentleman in a pas
sion. II don't want any of these new
tangled villas and modern band-boxes.
| want Antiquity. vantage. Imust
have something mysterious, secluded,
out of the common channel. DO I sue
coed in making myself understoodp"
"Them amt the kind of houses we
have on our list" said the %real-estate
agent, in some disgust. But the clerk
looked up from the slate on which he
had been conducting a private game Of
fox and geese.
elbow would Desperation Hall do,
sir?" said he, in a confidential under
tone to his principal.
desperation Hall !" repeated Mr..
Pratt, aghast.
desperation Hall IA taking name,
that - said the old gentleman, eagerly.
''Where is it? what is itp"
'tIt's antique enough to suit any one,"
said Mr.. Pratt, slowly chewing q straw,
land tumble-down enough and mystic
rious enough ; but ! don't suppose any
one. would want to live in it,"
81 should s'pose it was just the sort OF
place the gentleman would want, sir,
said Ebon Joyce, plausibly.
Lets go and look at Desperation
Hall, by all MEANS" said Mr.. Drake,
Selling his gold-headed cane and replac-
ing his hat on his head.
''But it's almost dark, SIR" pleaded
the real-estate agent.
''Hang the dark" exclaimed the
stout old gentleman.
eff thou wouldst view fair Melrose Alright,
Go visit it by the pale moonlight
come on come on! dOnC let's lose
time!!"
The real-estate agent, not being a lit
erary man, was u~nacquainted with the
words of Sir Walter Scott.
II don't know as there's any moon to-
night" said he, land Melrose Station
amt on the Hudson River road, its on
the Harlem line"
eyes, yes, exactly" said the old gen.
tleman, coughing. Lets go at once"
II don't believe you'd like it," said
Pratt.
"Suppose you allow me to Judge for
myself on that point" sarcastically OBJ
served Mr. Drake; and SO they set off
without further parley.
Desperation Hall was some three