The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-01-15
By Winona Godfrey


J3st then an automobile stopped in front and
an elderly lady and gentleman slIghted. fol-
lowed by a trim and sprightly figure
daughter, no doubt. She paused in the door
way to excIaim: What q darling housed
May we look around?"
y %, certainly" Lysander was smiling
rather eagerly. No reason surely why he
shouldn't give himself little rhearsal "n
you will allow me" and he began TO open
doors for them. to call attention to this CON
venIence and that view. how pleasant 1t was
70 have the morning sun in the breakfast
room, and in short made himself Agreeable
In a sincere boyish fashion. The Brownings
were natteringly responsive. Really it was
just the sort Of place they were looking forI
And did you design It yourself Mr..
Pratt?' Miss Browning who was about forty
demanded.
"oh-ah-no. No." said the startled Ly-
sander. 1T was built by Mr.. Anderson"
Then you're his agent Really. Mr..
Pratt. the place does suit US. We will talk
business with your
1ysanoer swallowed hard. Fine! He
plucked Anderson's card from his pocket
with q not very steady hand and quoted the
price!
1t seemed to be Miss Browning who had
the money and the sayso and it was plain
that she was most amicabIy inclined toward
Mr.. Pratt Papa Browning gave some ad-
vice. but obviously when daughter made UP
her mind something permanent had occurred
Lysander's VOICE had a strange thin sound
to his own ears as he promised to see Mr..
Anderson at once. arrange for him to meet
the Brownings. and % forth. Miss Brown
ing, having talked herself into enthusiasm,
was determined to clinch the bargain right
now. No one must get in ahead Of her
get her house! All vivacity. she insisted on
giving Lysandsr a check for a hundred dol.
lars to show her good faith.
When he had bowed and smiled and
thanked and got rid Of the BrovninEs, Ly-
sander mopped his brow. not at all certain
whether he had made a good mart for
heaven or Jail. o course he had no right
, to do what he had done, and be couldn't
understand yet how he'd done it-but Just
the same he had sold Andersons house for
him.
To put It briefly, he found Anderson, who
naturally was glad to sell his house. and who
had, Of course no objection to dealing with
the Brownings' agent (as it seemed to him.
nor to seeing the light az to a little slice
Of commission when the deal should be con-
summated.
And when. after the greatest day Of his
life Lysander went to bed, not knowing GER
tainly whether. as Aunt Jane would have
said, he was afoot or horseback. the world
was his! Success! 1t. was an apple in his
hand from which the size Of his bites vas
entirely optional He was too excited TO
sleep for awhile. but at last he dropped OFF
already a millionaire, the afianced husband
Of Phyllis! Phyllis, Phyllis. PhyTl.
The deal actually went through without
a hitch and Lysander. clothed in the conf
dence of achievement, turned aside to make
a play toward the other goal. And. humanity.
having turned one good trick. he was in
cnned to save invention by trying it q second
time.
By the simple expedient OF telephoning q
question he discovered that the F. J. villa IDS
were domiciled at the Hotel Ambassador.
thus adding Sherlock Holmes to his role OF
Monte Cristo. Then he hiked through the
Wiltshire district like a location man spot
ting the home Of the queen Of society. Why?
He was looking for a suitable residence for
the wilIards!
Having at last found one with what he
considered possibilities and with a represent.
alive on the spot, to whom Lysander limited
that he was scouting for somebody big. he
was assured that anybody he brought would
be treated with consideration-which costs
nothing. This accomplished. Lysander went
home. dead tired, calling it a day and invent
ing a tune to None but the brave deserve
the fair"
After dinner. though. he wandered out on
the porch. his spirits sagging into an unac-
countabIe penxivsness. He felt, all OF a sud
den, terribly forlorn. And why! He had &C
complished wonders-weIl. anyway. a good
deal. In all the stories he'd read he couldn't
remember a hero who had started out more
propitiously on such a campaign. And come
to think Of it. that hero always won with
an original idea like this. Invariably he
turned some clever trick that introduced him
favorably, and then-since they" were
made for each other. STILL Lysander felt
blue Miss Burd smiled and said it was a
pleasant evening as she trpped out to a
lecture. Mr.. Tilbury. all dolled up and wear
ing an incredible necktie, waved a salute a.
he set out