The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-28


with all that rifIran2 Look there now"
tlnomas Bance Was surveying the street
beiow from the bay wlnGow OF his dining
room, and his eye just then fell on a troop
ot artisans, with attendant wives and ba-
Dies, and countless olive branches, carrying
wooden spades and buckets, evidently bent
on seaside excursion.) Those are speci-
mems OF the rabble who make the day hid
Sous. Look at EN-. on to Brighton or
when they get there? Tramp the town all
day, poison themselves with bad oysters
Sinking wrinkles and stale shrimps, swi
themselves with beer till they're fit to
burst and then be sick in the train all the
beStiali''
a cigarette and sulkily scanning the outside
sheet Of the morning paper.
see our Advertisements in about that
Sydenham house." he remarked, after a
"Ah, yes / hope we shall get some an
swers. I've had another letter this morn
ing from Phelps the lessee You knew he
oHered US special commission of $50 if we
could md some one to take over the lease
ana BUY the furniture. Well, this morning
he increases the offer to G75, provided we
can lind such person before the end of
next week. He has to leave England at
snort notice, and is in a hurry TO have mat
terS settled up.
There shouldn't be much difficulty" said
BERTHE. It's a nice little place, in good re-
pair. good garden, near the palace, and
eligible in every way. The furniture, too,
Is as good as new and in excellent taste.
the least of it,"
Exceptional opportunity for a newly
married couple" remarked Thomas Bance,
with his auctioneering air. I'VE shall have
no applicants to-day, Of course, owing to
this disgusting holiday; But the advertise
ment is TO run for another two issues. Well.
Herbert, these arrears of work are awaiting
us We had better lose no more time in set
ting to work upon them.
With a surly air and unwilling steps the
young man followed his uncle down stairs
to the office They were soon up to their
man seemed to revel-and for two hours
scarcely sound was heard save the rust
ling of documents and the scratching of
pens Thomas Bance beamed more and
more. Berties grew more and more savage
and sulky 1t was too bad to be kept in this
notonous work on such day Too RadI If
was scandalous, cruel, intolerablel
Just wnen he was beginning to feel he
the form of a ring at the office bell BERTHE
went to answer il. He found an old lady,
who had just alighted from a growler,
standing on The doorstep.
Good morning" said the lady, with an
unmistakable German accent. lis Mr..
Bance in?''
HE is, madam" replied BERTHE, staring at
her in some surprise. She was an odd-look
ing, extremely old-fashioned person, who
from her dress and general appearance
looked as though she might have just come
out of the ark.
Zach, then, / am fortunate" she said II
was afrait [ should not find him at home
on bank holiday. But l was in much hurry
to see him, so l came on the top OF the
chance"
BERTHE, as he conducted her into the waiting
room.
Scandinavian Schneider. l am lately
from South Africa arrived and / come TO
see him about that advertisement of the
house at Sydenham.
BERTHE took the message in to his uncle,
and a minute later was uShering the old
lady into Mr.. Dances presence.
Good morning. madam, said the house
bert. place chair for the lady. You have
come to me about the house at Syden-
ham, understand. madam.
hannesburg arrived; ! am staying at the
Hotel-w'at you call him-Metropole. But
/ hate hotels. They are so noisy, so con-
fusing And my merits is weak The doc
tors hat order me quiet; but l must be near
London. The house at Sydenham sounds
to suit / wish to treat for the house
at Sydenham.
Certainly, madam. From what you. say
of your requirements l should say it is
1T Stand high? Your advertisement say
it stand high?' said the old lady.
so it does, madanl-260 feet above sea
level"
''Ach! that is what want. 1 want to be
above the reach OF the London fog. Ach!
tract ophthalmia out on the Rand, and am
to London come to be under an eye-w'at
you call him ?-SpecialiZer. He make me
wear these ogly green goggles and this
stoffy Gauze veil to keep the glare and dust
out of mine eyes. And he tell me to take
a house somewhere on the high land near
London, which shall be too lofty for the
autumn fogs to reach when they come. He
say the London fogs is worse for mine eyes
Sydenham as a goot place. | see your adj
vertisement. 1t seem TO be what l want.
come here at once. wish to treat. w at
Provided you will give our clients price,
madam for the lease and the furniture, we
shall have no difficulty in arranging matters
Wat is your clients price?"
1.-Two hundred pounds for the lease, G354
for the furniture-e550 altogether
''Achi L shall not-w at you say?-haggle.
The money is no considerations to me. L
am reech. l will gladly pay that If the
house suit me- Can l see the house? l am
in hurry. 1 want to settle at once. Can
/ see the house to-day?
HIM! To-day is rather inconvenient. If
tomorrow would do equally we'll
"Ach. but tomorrow will not do equally
well.' exclaimed the old lady. Il am in
hurry, / say. | wish to see the house at
Sydenham to-day. What prevents me to see
Nothing actually prevents madam. But
1 should have liked to send one of my clerks
with you. And to-day they are all absent
from the Office"
But is not this young man one of your
clerks?" she demanded. indicating BERTHE by
d gesture. Can you not send this young
man nit me?" l will-w'at you Eenglish
say-stand the damages. l am reech. Money
is no object to me. Come now. That is fair
/ give you your price. You give me my
IF you really insist on viewing the house
to-day" replied Thomas Bance, seeing that
he had to deal with an eccentric old person,
who might as likely as not throw up the
house if she were not humored on this
point IL will arrange to send this young
man, my nephew, with you to Sydenham
at once"
''Goot! / am taking that offer. Ach! 1
avail myself. My cab waits in the street
Let US be off at once to see the house at
Sydenham.'
The old lady rose from her chair as she
spoke Thomas Bance rose also, to bow her
out.
You are quite sure to like the house.
madam he said and my nephew will be
able TO supply you with any detailed infor-
nation you may require
''Ach! Thank you. / will give you my de-
cison as soon as / hat the house seen. The
yong man, your nephew, is he ready to
start? Yah? Then let us-w'at you say-cut
our walking steeck. l am never one to let
BERTHE, who by this time had possessed
himself of his hat and stick, was following
her out, when his uncle plucked his sleeve
Hist" he whispered. "Humor the old
girl. She's worth humoring, l think. And
don't lose her by haggling over any little
matter"
BERTHE nodded comprehensively, then fol-
lowed Frau Schneider to her cab. He was
already in a better temper. Even to go on
this business expedition with this eccentriS
and shabby old foreigner. was a blessed
escape, for an hour two, from the muSty
and monotonous confinement of his uncles
office
''Shall tell the to drive to Victorian"