The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-01-26
PRISONER OF WAR.
A Landlord Goes to Collect His
Rent and Instead Gets Col
lected Himself.

v@~V&$V~VV%~V~
mo rent again this month! This is
the third time it has happened within
the half year. I'll go there myself and
get the money, or I'll know the reason
why"
Matthew Deane was in particularly
bad humor this raw December morn
ing. Everything had gone wrong.
Stocks had fallen when they ought to
have risen, his clerk had tipped over
the inkstand ON his special and pecul-
lar heap of paper. the fire obstinately
refused to burn in the grate-in short,
nothing went right, and Mr.. Deane was
consequentlyand correspondingly cross.
Jenkins"
Eyes, SIR"
go to the Widow Clarkson and tell
her shall be there in half an hour and
expect confidently-mind, Jenkins, con-
fidently-to receive that rent money, or
else l shall feel myself obliged to re-
sort to extreme measures. You under
stand, Jenkinsw p
Certainly, SIR"
"Then don't stand there staring like
an idiot! snarled Mr.. Deane In sud-
den burst of Irritation, and Jenkins dis
appeared like shot.
Just half an hour afterward Matthew
Deane brushed the brown hair just
| sprinkled with gray from his square
yet not unkindly brow. Putting on bis
fur lined overcoat, he walked forth in
| to the chilly winter air fully determin-
i od Aor fn fn hn 10
| faulting Widow Clarkson.
| 1t was a dwarfish little red brick
house, which appeared originally to
have aspired to two storyhood lot, but
cramped by circumstances, had settled
down into story and half, but the
windows shone like Brazilian pebbles
and the doorsteps were worn by much
securing. Neither of these circum
stances, however, did Mr.. Deane re
mark as he pulled the glittering brass
doorknob and strode into Mrs. Clark
sons neat parlor.
There was a small fire-very small
as If every lump of anthracite waI
boarded in the stove-and at a table
with writing implements before her
sat young lady whom Mr.. Deane a
once recognized as Mrs. Clarkson's
niece, Miss Olive Mellen. She was no
disagreeable to look upon. though 70,
would never have thought of chasing
her among the beauties. with shinin.
black hair, blue, long lashed eyes ant
very pretty mouth, hiding teeth lik,
rice kernels, so white were they.
Miss Mellen rose with a polite nod
which was grimly reciprocated by MI
Deane.
81 have called to see your aunt, Mis-
Mellen."
'T know it, sir, but as l am awar
of her timid temperament l sent he
away l prefer to deal with you my
SELF"
Mr.. Deane started. The cool audacl
ty Of this damsel in gray. with scarle
ribbons in her hair, rather astOnishe,
, him.
: 81 suppose the money is readyY
mo, sir; it is not"
''Then. Miss Olive-pardon me
must speak plainly. shall send an off
Ger here this afternoon to put valus
tion on the furniture and
"You will do nothing of the kini
STRIP
olives cheeks had Redeemed, and he
eyes flashed portentously. Mr.. Dean
turned toward the door. but ere
= knew what she was doing Olive ha
walked quietly across the room, locke
the door and taken out the key. The
she resumed her seat.
"What does this meanY' calculate
the astonished prisoner Of war;"
ut means. sir. that you will no.
be obliged to reconsider the question
said Olive.
"ObligedY
"Yes. You will hardly jump out {
the window. and there is no otht
method of egress unless you choose
go up the chimney. Now. then, M
Deane, will you tell me if you. a Chri
tan man in the nineteenth centur
intend to sell poor widows furnitul
because she is not able to pay yol
rent? Listen. sirv'
= Mr.. Deane had opened his mouth
demonstrate. but Olive enforced h.
words with a very emphatic litt
stamp of the foot. and he was, as
were, stricken dumb.
"You are what the world calls a rit
man, Mr.. Deane. You own rows
u u houses, piles of bank stock. railros
"a shares, bonds and mortgages-wl
T. r knows what? My aunt has nothin
ed l support her by copying. Now. if th
case be Carried into a court of law, Il
poor aiiing aunt will be a sufferer. "