The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-01-17
PRISONER OF WAR
A Landlord Goes to Collect His
Rent and Instead Gets Col
lected Himself.

/
mo rent again this month! This is
the third time 1t 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 aud pecuI-
lar heap of paper, the fire obstinately
refused to burn In the grate-in short,
nothing went right, and Mr.. Dcane was
consequentlyand correspondingly cross.
"Jenkinsi
"Yes, SIR"
go to the Widow Clarkson and tell
her l shall be there in half an hour and
expect eonfidently-mind,J Jenkins, con.
fidently-to receive that rent money. oil
else | shall feel myself obliged TO re-.
sort to extreme measures You under
stand, Jenkins?"
Certainly, sir"
Then don't stand there staring like
an idiotp snarled Mr.. Deane In sud
| den burst of irritation, and jenkins dis
| appeared like n shot.
just half an hour afterward Matthew
| Deane brushed the brown hair just
| sprinliled with gray from his square
yet not unkindly brow. Putting on his
! fur lined overcoat, he walked forth III
to the chilly winter air fully determin
| nj al Ia H.
faulting Widow Clarkson.
1t was a dwarfish little red bricl
house, which appeared originally tC
have asplred to two storyhood lot but
cramped by circumstances, had settled
down into story and n half, but the
| windows shone like Brazilian pebbles
| and the doorsteps were worn by much
securing. Neither of these clrcum-
stances. however, did Mr.. Deane re-
mark as he pulled the glittering brass
doorknob and strobe into Mrs. Clark
sons neat parlor
There was a small fire-yery small,
as If every lump of anthracite was
boarded In the stove-and az n table,
with writing implements before her,
sat young lady whom Mr.. Deane at
once recognized rs Mrs. Clarksons
niece, Miss Olive Mellen. She was not
dlsagreeable to look upon, though you
would never have thought of chasing
her among the beauties, with shining
black hair, blue, long dashed eyes and
very pretty mouth, hiding teeth like
rice kernels, so white were they.
Miss Mellen rose with polite nod,
which was grimly reciprocatcd by Mr..
Deane.
81 have called to see your aunt, Miss
Mellen."
"a know 1t, sir, but as | am aware
Of her timid temperament | sent her
away. | prefer TO deal with you my
self"
Mr.. Deane started The cool audaci-
ty of this damsel In gray, with scarlet
him.
II suppose the money is readyY
mo, sir; 1t Is not"
"Then, Miss Ollve-pardon mel
must speak plainly, shall send an Off
Ger here this afternoon to put yalua-
ton on the furniture and
you will do nothing of the kind.
sire'
Olives cheeks had Redeemed, and her
eyes flashed portentously. Mr.. Deane
turned toward the door, but ere he
knew what she was doing Olive had
walked quietly across the room. locked
the door and taken out the key. Then
she resumed her seat.
"What does this meanT calculated
the astonished prisoner of war"
at means, sir, that you Will now
be obliged to reconsider the question, ="
said Olive.
"ObligedY"
yes. You Will hardly jump out OF
the window, and there Is no other
method of egress, unless you choose 10
go up the chimney. Now, then, MIR
Deane, VIII you tell me If you, a Chris
tian man In the nineteenth century
intend to sell poor widows furniture
because she Is not able to pay your
rent? Listen, slr''
Mr.. Deane had opened his mouth to
demonstrate. but Olive enforced her
words with very emphatic little
stamp Of The foot. and he was. as II
were, stricken dumb.
"You are what the world calls n rich
man, Mr.. Deane. You own rows OF
| houses, plies Of bank stock, railroad
shares, bonds and mortgages-w
knows what? My aunt has nothing.
| support her by copying. Now, If this
case be carried into a court of law, my
Door ailine aunt viii be a sufferer. You
would emerge unseathed and profiting.
| You are not n bad man, Mr.. Deane;
you have great many noble qualities,
and like you for them" She paused
an instant and looked lntently and
| grayely at Mr.. Deane. The color rose
| to his cheek. 1t was not disagreeable
to be told by pretty young girl that
she liked him, on any terms, yet she
had INDUCED In pretty plain speaking.
II have heard" she went on, "of your
doing kind factions when you were In
| the lumor for it. You can do them and
you shall Ia this instance. You are
cross this morning, you know you are!
Hush, no excused You are selfish and