Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-22
HAD To MATCH FOR IT

apartment house, who lives in the building
and shows the vacant flats to prospective
tenants, land got action on the advertise
ment the first thing Wednesday morn
ing. Two young matrons. wearing the wor-
ried expression of tine fiat seeker in their
eyes, appeared in imy office at the same
instant. shortly after o'clock. They bore
the ,earmarks of having dressed hur1ediy.
and 1t was fairly pain to me-Ive been an
apartment house superintendent for a good
many years now-that they had hustled
from their homes, on flat-hunting intent.
Immediately after getting their husbands
Off to their offices. They both. as say, en-
tered my Office door at once-it was a dead
heat and no mistake.
That $35 fat they both said to me In
a breath. and breathlessly
Yes. said 1. Are you together? l
knew that they weren't but I'm a real
mischievous old man, and l like to study
'em.
Nor they both snapped together with
a suddenness that was amply satisfying to
my sense of curiosity
w ELL said 1. taking the keys from the
rack and pretending to be a whole lot in
terested In setter pup that saw out of
the window. I suppose may as well show
the Hat to both Of you ladies at the same
time'
got here first" snapped the black
eyed one giving me rather a baleful glance
not half so baleful though, as the stare
which she bestowed upon the other young
matron.
Well. like THAR exclaimed the latter,
who was blonde but who had plenty of
sparks In her blue eyes at that Didn't I
me.
oh, WELL, said in my best diplomatic
manner, and ducking the query, 1T isn't
likely that you'll both like the fiat. you
knao now neither of you WILL
Ihey both tossed their heads as much
as to say that they didn't know SO much
about that, and I seized the moment to
iead them to the elevator and to conduct
them to the vacant $35 third floor fiat
why. how nice! they both exclaimed
at once when led them into the fiat
Ahen. naturally and strictly as a fem
mime matter of course. they peered into the
clothes closets.
Oh. what lots Of closet spacer they ex-
canned. taking pains. however. to address
thelr remarks to me. and never so much as
looking directly at one another.
es H-yes M said I bestowing a sep
arate and individual nod of acquiescence
upon zach of the young matrons.
what cute red wall paper!' they said
JUST as one woman, when / led them into
the dining ROOM am not exaggeratine
In the least-they said just precisely the
same things and at exactly the same time
so that 1t almost seemed that they had
been rehearsed and were doing part of a
sketch. But, identical as they were orally
they were far apart in spirit. 1 could see
that by the glanees which they shot at
each other out of the corners of their eyes.
Oh, what nice gas range-and filtered
water-that porcelain tub is a new one,
isn't it?-the kitchen certainly is cunning.
Oh. I'll take this; I'm sure my husband
will like It, was their final simultaneous
remark, however. THAT got me going and
came pretty nigh sending me to the mat
for the count u
But said I. tying to gain time by
edging in a iittie Joke, the fiat is really
not designed for two families you know
Then they Both regarded me resentfully,
and I knew what z was then to possess
that umpire feeling.
But put in the, black-eyed one I am
perfectly positive that my husband will like
this fiat. and we are all packed and ready
to move In at once.
And am equally certain that my hus-
band will be delighted with the fiat. and
and we've been allIspacked and ready to
move for a week., said the blue-eyed one,
as II that latter fact sort of nudged along
the priority Of her. icladm. ~ -..,--.s
= . I will pay you a deposit on the rent
at once said the dhlack-eyed one, begin
ming to- dig info her, cha telafne bag
: g So will l., said sfhe blue-eyed one snap
ping open her wrist bag.9l-}
Il was out-sA the -Hfnh-forz fair by this
time ne but but essayed another side-step to
90 'Perhaps,LI said -ypu iadEes had bet
ter bring sdar husbands TO look at the
fiat, land then there'H be q better chance
to arrive ataH understanding It's possible
rather probable. in sfact-rthat they may
not be so taken with the fiat as you are
and in the meantime you may, II you
choose, let me have your references-that's
the invariable rule. you know-and I'll
look them up
ttHere are my referencesn they both
hos
names so rapidly that my note book soon
looked like that Of an incompetent stenoy-
rapher. psi
III have my. husband here to look at
the fiat Immediately after O'clock thew
then said, again in unison, and then I got
them down in the elevator and out They
tossed their pretty heads at each other
while standing in the entrance waiting for
cars. and then took cars going in opposite
directions. <.s
.'Well, sir, the ftwo couples got off the
very same car at exactly six minutes past
a. The husbands We're pair of good-nat
ured-looking chaps. and didn't appear to be
In any great hurry. But their wives grab
bed hold OF their arms Just as soon as thew
got off the car
:" Please hurry. won't you. they said,
fmpa tiently. to their husbands literally
yanking them to the entrance to nv Office
And the whole four squeezed into my little
Office at the same instant
" " Have you looked UP the references?'
the two women inquired of me at once.
Yes l replied, and they are all ex-
cellent.'
THE two husbands stood close together
behind their busy wives and l caught them
holding and then winking at each other
az took the four of them up to the fiat.
Isn't it cunnin' Jack% said the black
eyed one to her husband, almost before the
man had got into the fiat.
90 Isn't it just too perfectly cute Jim?
inquired the blue-eyed one of her man at
the same instant.
"''S'all right-kind o cooped up and
dinl1y--but sail right replied the hus-
bands. virtually together, and not enthus-
iastically.
why, | think it's just grandp said the
black-eyed one. spiritedly.
What kind of fiat do you expect to
get for thirty-ffve month"; somewhat
spitefully inquired the blue-eyed one of her
husband. a.
men. Then they, looked each over and
griRned. - ..-- s--
"'How bout matching for it, old man?'
the husband of the black-eyed one said to
the husband of the blue-eyed- one
Z" Sure thing said the. latter. producing
a half dollar. What's yours?'! and he
Tipped the coin into the air
Heads said the other man-and heads