Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-12-09

ga5ed out into the smoke.flled room
with far-away eyes. cit was a curious
story" said he. The way I happen
ed to be in Mexico was this: was traV.
cling for the house of Guggenheimer &
Co., who were interested in California
wines. Guggenheimer has gone under,
l am sorry to say. HeIwas forced to
suspend payment when there came
that crash in 1893. Well, Guggenheim-
er wanted to start a branch establish
ment in Nogales. right across the
Arizona line. Our firm had told me
to purchase a cheap building for an
Office anywhere in the town. / was
young then, hadn't been travelling long.
and my ~inexperience was enormous.
There were a great many things l did
not know. When I arrived in the
town, / was struck by the shabby shan
ties of which 1t was composed. A good
wind looked as If 1t would blow the
whole town down. However, as / was
walking around the place, l saw near
the barracks a little snanty with a
roughly scrawled sign on it In Span
ish which meant: This building to let
or for sale.' The architecture Of this
ediflce was extremely Simple. In fact.
it was nothing but four. walls and a
roof. L said to myself: This will do
we'll enough for OUT temporary Office
and, approaching the building, 70.
ticed that 1t had a barred window. be-
hind which / saw a Head. The Head
saw me as soon as / saw the Head,
and 1t smiled a frank and kindly smile.
Then the H~eadSopened its mouth and
cNed:
.EIew are you? Better of than l
am, III swear.
Il was struck with the frank smile
OF the Head, and particularly as it Of
forded me an opportunity to talk bust.
ness.
AS for that said 1, 1T rests en-.
tirely with you to change our places
"The Head looked at me without re.
plying.
" I have just noticed said I, that
this building is to let CT for SALE
"The Head burst into a roar Of
laughter.
Well, sir, said /, somewhat net
tied, 4 don't see anything to laugh at.
II this building suits me, l would like
to buy it.
" You would like to buy it?
Yes. Is it possible for me to in
spect it?'
"toh, nothing is sssler. All you
have to do is tospush back the bolt and
come in
sit seemed singular, but the door
was fastened by a bolt On the outside.
] pushed lack the bolt and ente: ed.
Another thing struck me strangely
the building was remarkable for a CON-
plete absence of furniture, but mas
much es all | intended to do with it
was to use it for storing wine, OF
course / didn't need any furniture.
"The Head noticed my astopishment,
and said again. with It's open smile:
The furniture Is being upholstered
"aAh.' I replied. and let me ask
whether you a.. willing to sell. and II
so whether your price is high?'
I" oh, I think not. would be will
Ing to sell at unreasonable figure
Suppose I were TO give you a
hundred dollars. would you take it?'
'',The Head again laughed. L should
smile / would CCreo que sou
/" The derce!' said I to myself, per.
haps there 10 something wrong with
this building and then aloud I added
will you guarantee that the building
Is solidly constructed?
" Solid? My dear sir. If you had
spent as much time in 1t as have,
you would never dream of trying to
break out-I mean. to break 1t down.
/" Very we'll, then, l will give you a
hundred dollars for t.
1.-THE Head regarded me with the
came oren smile.
=" Are you in earnest?' said he.
"It was evident that he doubted my
financial responsibility. So took
out my purse, and from it extracted
five twenty-dollar pieces. There is
your hundred dollars said 1.
HE extended his hand, took the god
pieces, looked at me, and as he ap-
pa1ently hesitated, l said to him:
81 wish to enter into possession
soon, so you must sign the usual .docu.
ments."
q Very WELL he said. I'm sorry l
cannot offer you any refreshments, but
my servant has just gone out and
taken the keys'of the cellar with her.
81 thanked him. assuring him that !
was not in the habit OF drinking tie.
tween meals. l took out of my pocket
book a sheet Of paper, and drew up a
contract of sale. and when he hal
signed, I babe him .fa:uwe!l,
"a few days afterwards appeared
before my newly purchased building,
With two big trucks filled with casks
OF wine, But what was ny ail1n'sa.
tnent when / found eight men in my
house. I ordered them to go away.
But as they stared at me without re.
plying, / informed them that I had
bought the building some days before
from a man who was in the house aud
TO whom I had paid a hundred dol
lars.
at these words the eight inmates