Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-08-07


pointed at being confronted with a sandy
haired and very pimpled young man, who
sat in his shirt sleeves in scantily furnish
ed back office, chewing toothpick.
us Observation-Disclosures of the Pension
Real-estate Investment company? queried
Amund, respectfully.
yes" the young man replied. taking
his feet down from the table. "What can
| do for you?'
"I-I-should like to see the-the-
president of the company, if-if-you
would be so very kind as to call him,
Amund remarked, apologetically.
~ regret to say the president is out of
town at present" said the plausible youth;
"but wont you sit down, please? | think,
perhaps, can give you all the information
you require; and need not say | shall be
very happy if ! can be of service to you"
There was something so insinuating in
the young fellows manner that Amund,
though he had resolved to be very cautious,
soon found himself talking freely with
him.
The next day the young man-Farley
was his handicapped in upon him, by
pure chance, it seemed, while he was hav-
ing his noon rest; and they became better
acquainted. The following Sunday they
met again; and Farley took Amund about
in buggy, and showed him all the proper
| ty he had for sale on the west side He
invited him to lunch with him in his little
cottage on West Indiana street, where he
was living: and the upshot of many inter
views and conversations was that he offer
ed to sell this cottage, with lot. to Amund
for $1,000, possession to be granted when
500 had been paid, and a mortgage to be
given for the remaining amount. 1t seemed
all so perfectly fair and square that Amund,
after having got the price down to $500
and the furniture thrown in. had no hest
tation in closing the bargain. He paid
over to Farley the $500 which he had then
accumulated and received an acknowledge
ment of the amount from him, with prom
Use of deed on payment of 500 more.
Then he picked out the room which was
to belong to the Little Chap Uhc girls
might take what was lefU: and all day
long, during his work, he hummed to him
self or broke into Snatches OF unmelodious
song at the thought of the Little Chaps
pleasure in that room, and the furniture
which he would make with his own hands
for the Little Chap comfort. He worked
with a will now and would scarcely grant
himself time for sleep; for every blow
with his hammer and every whz of his
/
Then another year passed. Month by
month Amund handed over his savings to
Farley, who pocketed them in a cool, bust
ness-like manner: and at last. when the
$1,000 had been paid, he kept his word, and
gave deed Of the property to the carpen-
ter. Joyously then Amund wrote to his
wife, telling her to make no delay in com
ing, for he had now a home OF his own in
which 10 receive her and the children And
II was all furnished. and there was a scpa-
rate room for the Little Chap-God bless
him where he could keep all his funny
little traps, so that his sisters wouldn't an
noy him. Much he wrote in this strain.
for his heart was overbrimming with ioy.
and life seemed brighter and more beauti-
| full to him than ever before. The only
thing that troubled him a little was the fact
! that the family who lived in the house had
not Yet moved out. But Farley explained
that their lease did not expire until April
| LIST, and that in the mean while he would
have to be patient. On April "a they
would have to be gone. and then he could
take possession.
shall not attempt to describe the meet
ing between the Little Chap and his dad
1t was just the I'd of April when the fam
! lily arrived in Chicago, and were put. like
and driven to West Indiana street. Amund
ran up the front steps with the Little Chap
in his arms to show off his cottage: and
his wife and the five girls, all bundled up
with scarfs and kerchiefs until they looked
like walking haystackS, scrambled out of
the wagon as best they could. Farley had
promised to be there with the keys. and
formally put the new owner in possession
1t annoyed Amund a good deal when his
| first and second ring at the dOor-bel re-
manned unanswered. and still more annov-
ell was he when, at the third a man who
had not the least resemblance to Farley
opened the door and asked him in Ian
guage more vigorous than polite, what he
wanted.
IL have bought this house" Amund
said. with an air of righteous Indignation.
land | was told by Mr.. Farley that YOU
We're TO move out on the first of April.
The occupant of the house smiled an
extremely unpleasant smile, and asked,
| coldly. Whom did you buy it OFF,
"Mr. Farley"
That is a great pity, for he never owned
it,"
But where is he? He promised me the
keys last night
He has gone West"
Nfpllt W est. An icy terror clulcleu
at the Norseman's heart. and he reeled
backward as if he had been struck Good
Cod he groaned, sinking down upon the
topmost step. Good Cod
The Little Chap, seeing his distress,
wound his arms tightly about his neck and
rubbed his cheek against his face. He sat
thus for five or ten minutes, while the five
blond bundled-up girls stood on the side
walk staring at him with innocent stupidi-
ty. Then the man of the house re;ppear-
ed, and ordered them in harsh language to
move on. And when they only continued
to stare in uncomprehending wonder, two
policemen were sent for. and the whole
family We're huddled into a patrol wagon
and driven to the nearest police station
There Amund, under the stress of answer
ing the required questions, was aroused
sufficiently from his dumb misery to send
for Norwegian lawyer. who presently
made his appearance He listened to the
carpenter story and then shook his head
mounfully.
You have been swndled, my friend"
he said, You ought to have been more
cautious"
"But-but. lawyer" the poor fellow
went on, gazing into his face with an an
guished expectancy, "he-he-sod me
the house-and here I've got the papers
It's all right, surely. Amt ii, lawyer?"
The lawyer looked at the paper which
was handed him and then drpDpad il con