Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-01-28
O NE TO- Y.

ALASiuhN loNh ShlIP thClS iNSd u Lax
whose name was Lemuel Prouty. He
was a real estate agent and had long
enjoyed a monopoly of the business in
that village.
AT intervals when a newcomer hung
out his "shingle' bearing the inscrip-
ton, "~So-and-so, Real Estate old
Lem Prouty, as he was commonly
called, would exert his energies to
drive him out of business, and in
variably in the course of a few months
he succeeded. So shrewd was this
veteran trader and such a hold did he
have in his town hat in twenty-five
years only two sales had been made
by rival agents, and in each instance
they had been compelled to buy the
old man off to prevent his upsctting
the trade.
One day as old Lem sat in the open
doorway of Tom Connor's. stable he
remarked:
The man who gets ahead of me,
Tom, must rise up early in the morn
Ing and sit up late O nights-in fact.
ne must stay up most all the time"
Tom laughed and replied, 81 guess
that's about right, Lem"
AT this point Bill Gardner, the portly
constable, who was sitting on a bar
rel enjoying an after dinner cigar,
piped out, what Lem Prouty don't
know about selin' horses amt worth
KNOWN, and I'll bet $40 to 81 on him
any day"
Some days later, as old Lem sat in
the stable doorway smoking and chat
ting With Il party of acquaintance.
MS eye rested on a new sign in bold
characters which read, ".Andrew GRAY.
Real Estate"
"-Aha".' exclaimed the old trader.
WHO is this? We'll have to look into
the matter and give him his pass
ports"
Shortly afterward the Office door
opened and a young man stepped out.
he was tall and Slightly round shoul-
dered. with red curly hair and the
foundation of Il sandy beard, while
MS clothes were Worn and somewhat
seedy. He presented the appearance
OF a young man from the country.
~ Tcrdant haysecd,,' exclaimed the
old trader. That's easy game enough"
He spoke so loudly that the young man
cast a sharp glance at him as he pass
ed down the street.
Immediately old Lem started in pur-
suit, and, by keeping at a safe dis
lance and inquiring of neighbors and
a~cquaintanceS with whom he saw the
young man talking, he managed to
learn that his young rival had effected
a sale and that the papers were to be
drawn up on the morrow.
That evening the veteran trader call
ed upon Mr.. Andrew Gray at his Of
fee.
Mr.. L.emuel Prouty, sir" said that
worthy gentleman, seating himself in
a chair, with some emphasis.
Coco evening, sir" said the young
man, with a glance that seemed to say,
Il have seen you before and don't en-
terrain a very good impression of you
well, SIR" began old Lem, 81 s'pose
you know who l am. For twenty-five
years I've handled all the property
that's been sold around here, and
whenever I've had q competitor I've
squelched him. Now, 1 understand,
Sir, that you've made a sale, and l just
dropped around to say that the man
you've traded with is an old friend of
mine and that l have a place which
l know he would like a great deal bet
ter. Unless you are willing to make it
right with me l shall see him at once.'
Sir" replied Mr.. Gray rather sharp
ly, 1.-The trade is all made, and he has
agreed to take the place"
Agreed" Numbered old Lem.
"What's that amount to? l know the
man better than you do, and when l
can give him a better place and save
him money, too, he won't be fool
enough to take yours"
A look OF deep concern overspread
the face OF Andrew Gray, and for some
time he was lost in thought. Finally
he looked up and inquired:
IF / give you half my commission
will you be satisfed|'
Eyes, perfectly" replied old Lem, his
face beaming with triumph.
Agreed" said Mr.. Gray. Il will
give you one-half of what l get for
selling the place. The papers will be
passed at noon tomorrow. Good even
ing, sir" he added abruptly.
Good evening" returned old Lem
as he sauntered slowly out of the office.
"The easiest one yet" he chuckled as
he latched the door.
On the following day Lemuel Prouty
put in his appearance several minutes
before the appointed time. The stable
keeper and the fat policeman had also
come over at old LENS request to see
how easy he could turn $50" Others
Of the party We're the landlord, the Gus
toner, the justice. of the peace and the
young agent.
The papers having been duly drawn
up, signed and sworn to, the former
landlord turned to Mr.. Gray and in
quired:
Now, sir, how much do 1 owe your
"Not a cent" replied Mr.. Gray EN-
p%hatically.