The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-04-26

- didn't know enough 10 take OH
his hatr'
As the elevator sedately moved up
ward, bearing Miss HallOwell TO the
eighth floor, these words were spilled
from IL directly into the sun-burned
ears OF John Peck, OF the sixth floor.
He realized that il was his hat which
had not been taken off" and that
through the medium Of this hat he had
incurred the dlspleasure and scOrn Of
Miss Hallowell
He inserted a key in the keyhole Of
Apartment G03, entered, and strobe
nolsily through the inner hall until he
reached his room. He was angry and
hurt. Nothing so cruel as woman's
tongue, and nothing that leaves man
so defenceless
John removed the offending hat, and
examined IL critically - even apprOv-
ingly. 1t was a sOmbrcro. The
chances were that no hat in that whole
great city could equal IL in iincncss OF
texture and in genuine worth. "Out
West" from where John Peck recent
~ had come land where at this mo-
ment he heartily wished he were) the
quality of hat is Of supreme impor-
tance. A hat is actually an integral
part, not merely an adjunct OF a
wardrobe. 1t Is carefully selected,
jealousy cherished and proudly worn
as thing Of art
The cowboy is more tender Of mis-
boots and of his hat than he Is of his
pony.
However, despite the evident fact
that this was a hat to be esteemed
among all rival hats, John admitted
To himself that he ought not TO have
kept il on his head while he was in the
elevator with a woman. II dawned
upon him that there is n distinction
between private and public elevators.
He had committed an error against
society. Take man who has been on
the range for seven or eight years, and
In that period scarcely has seen Il
woman. and transplant him to n city,
and although at heart he Is n gentle
man he is likely at first TO scratch the
polish of metropolitan civilization.
Thus to oblige woman, whether
pretty or ugly, John Peck might brave
n norther, but he might meet her the
next day in an elevator and forget TO
doff his hat
Miss Hallowell had learned only the
latter portion of this hypothesis, and
now up on the eighth floor she was
graphically recounting to her friends
her truly narrowing experience. Miss
Hallowell, maiden hdy, was large
and angular and severe, but she had
a little mind, easily disturbed.
81 just glared at him all the way
she rccted with proper emphasis,
"yet | don't believe he even thought of
his hat! i never heard of such per-
Torrance! He looked like Il cowboy.
and the little fellow in the elevator
says that he rooms on the sixth, in the
Morris apartments. | shouldn't think
the Morrises would take lodgCr like
thatW g,s-s ef-e '--as ..,s-
y"He's n relative Of Mr.. Norris" cX-
planned one friend, "and | understand
he's from Arizona. Anyway, he's
come TO the city to stay awhile, and of
course Mr.. Morris felt obliged TO give
him room until he found permanent
quarters"
well he isn't gentleman" as
serted Miss Hallowell, conclusively.
For Miss Hallowel was quite sure
that she knew a gentleman when She
saw him
While on the top floor OF the build
ing Miss lIallowcll had been vigorous
ly narrating and condemning; while
two floors below John Peck had been
sitting on his bed wrathfully broodiug
over criticism 10y etfete society; while,
later, Miss Hallowel had descended
TO her own apartments at G17, Oh the
same floor with those of the misbe-
having Morris family. far down in the
basement n fire had been born. and
from moment TO moment il had been
growing.
Brought forth in stealth. in stealth
ii sought TO live until its stature was
assured. At : o'clock that night IL
had been only tiny flicker OF flame
which tie breath Of a babe might have
overcome. At . o'clock two buckets OF
water could have prevailed against IT,
At 10 o'clock a single eHtinguishcr
wisely welded, could have subducd IT,
AT IL o'clock it still was afraid to he
seen. So slowly and so craftily was il
eating into the Granny leading between
the walls.
But at ~ o'clock It had arrived tC
its manhood, IL had established 1t,
stronghold. and it was ready TO flauu
the red banner OF defiance In the fac,
of a thousand people.
Therefore IL recked not that durn.
the midnight hour the engineer. tar
dily travorsing the corridor. smel
smoke, and peering In saw fire. and
awakening the elevator boys as Ia
ran, rushed TO the alarm box au,
pulled the lever.
Fast as sped the elevator boys fror
story TO story. summoning the tenants
faster sped the flames. The lne apart
house, with its convenient hallway,
its unique furnishings OF maple. II
vanished floors. its tastefully tintc
ceilings, Was after all very films
structure. The contractors deeme
that they were the only ones TO kno'
this-Jut fire long had been IN posse,
sion OF the secret.
John Peek, slecp.Ig the sound stun