Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1908 — ONE TOO MANY. [ARTICLE]

ONE TOO MANY.

Thirty' yean ago in a lively New England township there lived a man wh(fee name was Lemuel Prouty. Be 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 inscription, “So-and-so, Real Estate,” old I*m Prouty, as he was commonly called, would exert his energies to drive him out of business, and invariably 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 that 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 upsetting 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 morning and ait up late o’ nights—in fact, he must stay up most nil the time.” Tom laughed and replied, “I guess that’s about right, Lem.” At this point Bill Gardner, the portly constable, who was sitting on a barrel enjoying an after dinner cigar, piped out, “WhaJ Lem Prouty don’t know about seUin’ horses ain’t worth knowin’, and I’ll bet $lO to $1 on him any day.” Some days later, as old Lem sat in the stable doorway smoking and chatting with a party of acquaintances, his eye rested on a new sign In bold characters which read, “Andrew Gray, Beal Estate.” “Aha!” exclaimed the old tt-ader. “Who is this? We’ll havg to look into the matter and give him his passports.” Shortly afterward the office door opened and a young man stepped ont. He was tall and slightly round shouldered, with red curly hair and the foundation of a sandy beard, while his clothes were worn and somewhat seedy. He presented the appearance of a young man from the country. “A verdant hayseed!” 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 passed down the street. Immediately old Lem started in pursuit, and. by keeping at a safe distance and inquiring of neighbors and acquaintances 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 called upon Mr. Andrew Gray at his office. * “Mr. Lemuel sir,” said that worthy gentleman, seating himself in a chair, with some emphasis. “Good evening, sir,” said the young man, with a glance that seemed to say, “I have seen you before and don’t entertain a very good impression of you.” “Well, sir,” began old Lem, “I s’pose you know who I am. For twenty-five years I’ve handled all the property that’s been sold around here, and whenever I’ve had a competitor I’ve squelched him. Now, I. understand, sir, that you’ve made a sale, and I just dropped around to say that the mau you’ve traded with is an old friend of mine and that I have a place which I know he would like a great deal better. Unless you are willing to make It right with me I shall see him at once." “Sir,” replied Mr. Gray rather sharply, “the trade is all made, and he has agreed to take the place.” “Agreed!” thundered old Lent. “What’s that amount to? I know the man better than you do, and when I can give him a better place and save him money, too, he won’t be fool enodfeh 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 I give you half my commission will you be satisfied?” “Yes, perfectly.” replied old Lem, his face beaming with triumph. “Agreed!” said Mr. Gray. “I will give you oue-half of what I get for selling the place. The papers will be passed at noon tomorrow. Good evening, 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 lu his appearance several minutes before the appointed time. The stable keeper and the fat policeman had also come over at old Lem’s request to see how easy be could “turn $50.” Others of the party were the landlord, the customer, the Justice Of the peace and the young agent. The papers having bees duly drawn up,’ signed and sworn to, the former landlord turned to Mr. Gray %nd Inquired: “Now, sir, how much do I owe you?” “Not a cent," replied Mr. Gray emphatically. There was a moment’s silence, when Lemuel Prouty arose and, stuffing his hands into his trousers pockets, bolted moodily out at the doorway, followed by peals of laughter. Some time afterward the following advertisement appeared in the local paper: “Not squelched! Andrew Gray Is Still doing business at the old stand.”