The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-03-30
SELLS HER HOUSE
BY VICTOR LAuRisToN.

| HNAs AAlNlG 4N'NN AOl4~-- my tONtNEt OlA
Patterson Avenue"
The cottage as valued at $1,000
for assessment purposes At other
times Aunt Patricia had always held
II at about 81 900 more But Elsie.
while she mOurned Aunt Patricia, gaZ-
ed a trfe askance at Aunt Patricia's
gift.
what am TO do with i,?' She ask
ed herself.
Live in it? No. She was very COM
Portable at home, thank you, with fa-
ther and mother. When she became
an ancient splnster, as Aunt Patricia
had been, she might need the house !;
but that eventually was a quarter of
century distance.
Sell the house? Elsie agreed in
stantly. And, feeling keenly her own
nsuiticiency for the task, she conned
the real estate advertisements. select
ed that which struck her as snappiest,
and betook herself straightway to the
oEice of Benjamin Smiles
A brisk-lookng young man came to
the door.
rs Mr. Smiles in?" demanded Elsie,
timidy.
Il am Mr. Smiles" returned the
brisk-looking young man. BE seated,
please He pushed forward chair.
Were you thinking of--buying a
hOuse?"
81 want to sell"
His look grew grave.
"Thls is rather hard time of the
year To SELL As he spoke, he watched
her face, and the gaze of his Keen gray
eyes was peculiarly penetrating.
would you mind describing the prop
erty?"
She did so, with little fancy touches.
"Thank you" he remarked. "Tll
find a purchaser for the cottage, never
fear"
But as the days wore on no word
came from Mr.. Benjamin Smiles real
estate agent Elsie grew nervous, hen
suspicious. After week she again
sought Mr. Smiles little Office
The young man welcomed her Gag
erly.
I've had several prospects to look
at the house he declared, ''but-well
Il didn't like to bring them around to
see YOU when they didn't seem near the
deciding point. OF conrse | could bring
lot of people around to discuss
deal, but you know, It's bit hard Just
IT this season TO bring prospect to
the deciding point"
Elsie's face showed her disappOint-
ment.
They want a new house at a bar
gain price, and-you know--this cot
tage is comfortable and commodious,
but jlst bit old-fashioned-"
like Aunt Patricia" put in Miss
Newton, radiantly.
She watched Mr.. Smiles as he van
ished down the street, accompanied
by a hard-looking retired farmer who
had offered her $1,S00-"and not one
cent more"
For three days he failed to visit her
Then she called at his Office, surging
with Indignation at his neglect of her
interests. She began to tell him what
she thought Then she hesitated.
Miss Newton" he said, quietly, 81
have a buyer for your cottage, for So
5O0-the price you named But
by the way--the purchase is condi-
tional."
"Conditional-On what?
Mr.. Smiles looked embarrassed. He
sat down awkward!y, and crossed his
legs and actually stared at her.
Its this way" he remarked. Hes
young fellow, and--he's thinking Of
getting married, but-he's not quite
sure. Not quite sure If he gets mar
ried he'll buy the house"
Elsie pondered.
"By all means, you must encourage
him" she returned.
"The trouble is, he hasn't asked the
young lady. He is very doubtful as to
her feelings. And it occurred to me
that perhaps you cOuld---in diplo-
matte way, you know"
"Find out?" questioned Elsie. sharp
ly.
Mr.. Smiles nodded.
I'm be very much pleased to do any
thing that will hasten a sale" she re-
turned, practically. And who is the
young man."
Mr.. Smiles bowed. She stared at
him.
Mr. Benjamin Smiles" he added, in
explanation.
Her lip quivered.
"I-Pm afraid" she protested |
blankly. "If it's just the same to you
I'd prefer"
Then she slammed out into the cor
rldor and went blindly down the mar
row stairs. At home she sat long
time with herself, wondering duly |
just what 1t all meant to her.
Then she rallied. Her pride came
to her aid. She went TO the telephone.
Practical common sense inspired her;
that, and the desire to be forever rid
Of the house, and the heartbreak.
''Mr. Smiles" she told him, "Tn do
what you d-because-becaus l
promised" She paused tragically,
glad that he could not see the dabbing
Of her handkerchief. "Who-who Is
the-the lady?'
Miss Elsie Newton"
"But, honestly. meant IT," declared