The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-02-02
The Agent Of the
TagbIatt Property


Tagblatt house and grounds. was prob
ably the worst landlord that has eve
been seen on the face of the globe
When Tagblatt died. steIger was up
pointed custodian Of his property b,
the court. and SteIger was then
young man. The conditions of til,
win had excited a great deal Of com
ment at the time of Tagblatt's death
but that had been so long ago that n,
one living seemed TO know anythIn,
about it Many persons had rented
the property. but no one could be found
who could get on with the landlord o.
agent. or whatever he was. and not {
tenant had remained year.
The place was situated near the foo
of the Harz mountains. on the out
skirts of a village. The village hat
grown to be a city, and. having envel
oped the property, old Tagblatt's be
quest had grown very valuable thai
is, the land had, for the house was al
most uninhabltable from age.
If Steiger was the worst landlord n
the world, Chris and Gretchen Rhein
heart We're the best tenants. The rent
al of the Tagblatt property had never
been high, and when Chris and Crotch.
en- We're married they decided to take
1t This they did with open eyes. 70,
they knew all about old Steiger and
his ways. Hans was carpenter and
could make repairs himself. So the
young couple decided to take the place
at the low rental and not trouble the
landlord to do anything for them. BY
this means they hoped to be let alone
and not have any trouble.
Chris spent good deal of time when
he first went into the house endeayor-
Ing to make il habitable. Steiger came
along while he was at work and with
the usual abuse and oaths threatened
II he made any changes in the house
he would prosecute him under the law.
Chris desisted for the time being, but
when Steiger went away he proceeded
with his repairs.
However. II was plain that there
would be no peace in the house, and
the couple talked over the matter OF
leaving it. They finally decided to
stay. Chris for the reason that he was
too determined to be driven out and
Gretchen because she was of such a
sweet disposition that she was fitted
to get on with Satan himself. But
Steiger seemed determined to drive
them out. They made it difficult for
him by denying him pretexts. The
rent they invariably paid before 1t was
due. They. never asked for anything to
be done to the property. Indeed, what
ever patching they did was for its i'm.
proyement, as any court would have
decided. Notwithstanding all this care
Steiger made 1t so hot Cor them that
Chris at last gave out and told Crotch
en- that he must either give up their
lease or go into a lunatlc asylum.
Gretchen's lovable disposition seemed
not whit shaken, and they decided
that thereafter Chris should keep out
Of Steiger's way and she would receive
the abuse.
Then came tussle between good
and evil. When Steiger was seen com.
ing down the street Chris would es-
cape by back door, and when the old
man stopped to abuse his tenants
Gretchen would meekly submit to the
lashlngs of his tongue. Gretchen took
1t into her lovely stupid head that If
steiger had little piety he would not
be so unreasonable, SO one day when
the door opened and he stood glaring
at her she took cruclfix OF the man
tel, intending to tell him the story Of
the Saviour. What was her surprise
to see him the moment he saw 1t turn
away and hurry on down the street
sending back volleys Of excavations.
Just as retreating soldiers will turn and
fire at an enemy.
But Gretchen had found an expe-
dent After that steiger let them
alone for a long while. Indeed, he did
not call again till just before the ex.
piratlon Of the lease. when he made a
fierce onslaught, accusing Gretchen Of
having been trying to burn the house
She covered before him for moment,
for he looked more terrible than ever
she had seen him; then. taking up the
cruclfix. she was beginning to tell him
Of the example and sacrifice Of the
figure on the cross when with a howl
he made or again, just as he had done
before.
Having found way to protect them.
selves, they decided to renew their
lease, but Stelger did not appear, and
the tenants submitted the matter to
the court Of wills.
One day the judge sent for the ten
ants, and they went to him together.
you have accepted the Tagblatt
property for a yearT he asked.
"one, year. Here is the lease. It
expired a month ago. To whom shall
we pay rentg'
"Steiger has disappeared. After dis.
covering this / looked up the win,
which is on record. 1t seems that Tag
blatt had shrew for wife, and they
were always quarrellng. Mrs. Tag
blatt died first, and when her husband
followed her he left their houna m fba