Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-06-06

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courage to call at the address designat-
ed But his hoard kept increasing week
by week, and his anxiety grew apace.
Why should he not call upon the Fen
ston Real Estate Investment company!
1t was the poor mans friend, the adver-
tisement said, and might offer him some
good advice as to tbs best way of ac-
quiring hoae in tie shortest possible
time, for he was growing eagerer every
day for the sight of the Little Chap.
Finally, one day in the early spring,
he called upon the Fenston Real Estate
Investment company. He had fancied
from the advertisement something very
complicated and magnificent and was
somewhat disappointed at being con-
fronted with sandy haired and very
pimpled young man, who sat Ill his
shirt sleeves in scantily furnished back
office, chewing toothpick.
is his-the-the-offic of the Fen
ston Real Estate Investment company
queried Amund respectfully.
Eyes, 2" the young man replied, TAX
ing his feet down from the table.
''What can dc for your
"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.
II regret to say the president is or.t of
town at present. said the plausible
youth, "but won't you sit down, please?
think perhaps I can give you all the
information you require, and I need not
say I 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 talk
ing freely.
The next day the young man-Farley
was his name-dropped in upon him,
by pure chance, it seemed while he was
having his noon rest, and they became
better acquainted. The following Sun
day they met again, and Farley took
Amund about in buggy and showed
him all the property 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 interviews and con-
versations was that he offered this cot
tage, with lot, to Amund for $4,000,
possession to be granted when 81, 900
had been paid, and 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 81, 800 and the furniture thrown
in, had no hesitation in closing the bar
gain. He paid over to Farley the $500
which he had then accumulated and
received an acknowledgment of the
amount from him, with promise of deed
on payment of $400 more.
Then he picked out the room which
was to belong to the Little Chap (the
girls might take what was left, and all
day long during his work he hummed
to himself or broke into snatches of un-
melodious 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
Chaps comfort. He worked with will
now and would scarcely grant himself
time for sleep, for every blow with his
hammer and every whiz of his saw
brought the Little Chap nearer.
Then another year passed. Month by
month Amund handed over his savings
to Farley, who pocketed them in cool,
businesslike manner, and at last, when
the 81, 200 had been paid, he kept his
word and gave deed of the property
to the carpenter. Joyously then Amund
wrote to his wife, telling her to make
no delay in coming, for he had now a
home of his own in which to receive
her and the children. And it was all
furnished, and there was a separate
room for the Little Chap-God bless
him!-where he could keep all his funny
little traps, so that his sisters wouldn't
annoy him.
Much he wrote in this strain, for his
heart was overbrimming with joy, and
life seemed brighter and more beautiful
to him than ever before. The only thing
that troubled him little was the fact
that the family who lived in the house
had not yet moved out. But Farley ex-
planned that their lease did not expire
until April l, and that in the meanwhile
he would have to be patient. On April
3 they would be gone, and then he could
take possession.
I shall not attempt to describe the
meeting between the Little Chap and
his dad. It was just the I'd Of April
when the family arrived in Chicago
and were put, like so much baggage,
into an express wagon 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 the
wife and the five girls, all bundled up
with scarfs until they looked like walk
ing 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 i'll posses
sion. 1t annoyed Amund a good deal
when his first and second ring at the
doorbell remained unanswered, and still
more annoyed was he when at the third
a man who had not the least resem-
blance to Farley opened the door and
asked him, i'll language more vigorous
than polite, what he wanted
''EI have bought this house." Am
und said, with an air Of righteous in
dignation, "and I was told by Mr.. Far
ley that you were to move out on the
1st of April"
The occupant Of the house smiled an
extremely unpleasant smile and asked
coldly, "Whom did you buy it of?''
''Mr. Farley"
''That is great pity, for he never
owned it
t'But where is he? He promised me
the keys last night.
''He has gone west.
"Gone west?" Ali icy terror clutched
at the Norseman's S heart, and he reeled
backward as if he had been struck.
"Good God!" he groaned sinking down
upon the topmost STEP Good Godr"
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 sidewalk staring at him
with innocent stupidity. Then the man
of the house reappeared and ordered
them in harsh language to move ON.
And when they only continued to stare
in uncomprehending wonder two DO