The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-07-18
SELLS HER HOUSE
BY VICTOR LAURiSTON.

|
Aunt Patricia had willed to her
her, Elsie Newton-"my cottage on
Patterson Avenue"
The cottage as valued at $1,000
for assessment purposes. AT other
times Aunt Patricia had always held
1t at about $1,000 more. But Elsie,
while she mourned Aunt Patricia, gaz-
| ed tri1le askance at Aunt Patricia's
gift.
what am to do with it?" she ask
ed herself.
Live in 1t? No. She was very COM
| Portable at home, thank you, with fa-
| Their and mother. When she became
an ancient spinster, 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
insufficiency for the task, she conned
the real estate advertisements, select
ed that which struck her as snappiest,
and betook herself straightway to the
office of Benjamin Smiles.
A brisk-looking young man came to
the door.
rs Mr. Smiles in?" demanded Elsie,
timidly.
II am Mr.. Smiles" returned the
brlsk-loOking young man. "Be seated,
please" He pushed forward a chair.
"Were you thinking of-buying a
house?"
81 want to SELL"
His look grew grave.
"This is rather Il 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?"
81 She did so, with little fancy touches.
Thank YOU" he remarked. "Pn
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, then
suspicious. After a week she again
sought Mr.. Smiles little office.
The young man welcomed her Gag
erly.
1--WE had several prospects to look
at the house." he declared, "but-well
i didn't like to bring them around to
see you when they didn't seem near the
deciding point. OF course l could bring
lot of people around to discuss "A
deal, but you know it's bit hard just
at this season to bring a prospect to
the deciding point"
Elsie's face showed her dlsappoint-
ment.
"They want new house at bar
gain price, and-you know-this cot
tage is comfortable and commodious,
but just bit old-fashloned-"
Like Aunt Patricia" put in Miss
Newton, radiantly.
She watched Mr.. Smiles as he van
ished down the street, accompanied
by hard-looklng 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, ~
have a buyer for your cottage, for ST.
500-the price you named. But
by the way-the purchase is condl-
tional."
"Conditional-on what"
Mr.. Smiles looked embarrassed. He
sat down awkwardly, 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 p0ndered.
"By all means, you must encourage
him." she returned
1.-THE trouble is, he hasn't asked the
young lady. He is very doubtful as to
her feelings. And 1t occurred to me
that perhaps you c0uld-ln diplo-
matte way, you know"
"Find out?" questioned Elsie, sharp
ly.
Mr. Smiles nodded.
"T'll 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 qulvered.
T-I'm afraid" she protested,
blankly. "If it's just the same to you
I'd prefer"
Then she slammed out into the cor
rdor 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.
"MIr Smiles" she told him, "Tll do
what you asked-because-
promised" She paused tragically,
glad that he could not see the dabblng
Of her handkerchief. "Who-who is
the-the lady?"
Miss Elsie Newton"
"But, honestly, meant It," declared
Mr.. Smiles, when he called, twenty
minutes later. 81 intend to buy tile