The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-05-01
The Agent of the
1'agbIatt Property


sbly the worst landlord that has ever
been seen on tho face Of the globe.
when Tagblatt died. stelger was up
pointed custodian OF bis property By
tho court, and steIger was then o
young man. The conditions Of tho
will had excited d great deal Of com.
mont at the timc Of Tagblatts death,
but that had been 10 long ago that no
one living seemed 10 know anything
about II. Many persons had rented
tho property. but no ono could be found
who could get on with the landlord or
agent, or whatever he was. and not .
tenant had remained a year.
Tho place was situated near tho foot
or tho Harz mountains, on the out
skirts Of village The village had
grown TO be city, and, having envel-
oped The property. old TagbIntts be-
quest had grown very valuable--that
II, tho land had. for the house was al.
most uninhabitabIe frem age.
II Stelger was che worst landlord in
the world. Chris and Gretchen Rhein-
hcart were the best tenants. Tho rent.
al Of tho Tagblatt property had never
been high, aud when Chris and Gretch-
en- were married they decided TO take
II. This they did with open eyes, for
they knew oil about old SteIger and
bis ways. Hans was a carpenter aud
could make repairs himself. 10 the
young couple decided to take the place
at tho 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 spen, a good deal OF time when
be tirst went into the house endeavcr-
ing to make II habltabIe. steIger came
along while ho was az work and with
the usual abuse and oaths threatened
II he made any changes la 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 tho house, and
the couple talked over the matter Of
leaving II. They finally decided to
stay. Chris for the reason that be was
100 determined to be driven opt and
Gretchen because she was OF such 0
sweet disposition that she was lifted
to get on with Satan himself. But
stelger seemed determined to drive
them out. They made II difficult for
him by denying him pretexts. The
rent they invariably paid before II was
due. They never asked for anything to
be done 10 the property. Indeed, what
ever patching they did was for It's i'm
provement. as any court would have
decided. Notwithstanding all this care
Hteiger made Il 80 hot for them that
Chris at last gave out and told Gretch-
en- that he must either give up their
lease or go Into q lnnatlc asylum.
Gretchen's loyable disposition seemed
not whit shaken. and they decided
that thereafter Chris should keep out
Of steigers way and she would receive
the abuse.
Then came a tusslo between good
and evil. When steIger was seen com.
Ing down the street Chris would es-
cape by a back door, and when the old
man stopped to abuse bis tenants
Gretchen would meekly submit to the
lashlngs OF his tongue. Gretchen took
II into her lovely stupid head that Il
steiger had little piety he would not
be 80 unreasonable, 30 one day when
the door opened and he stood glaring
at her she took a crucltlx on 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 execrations,
Just as retreatlng soldiers will turn and
fire at an enemy.
But Gretchen had found an expe-
dent. After that Steiger let them
alone for long while, Indeed, he did
not call again I'LL Just before the ex-
plration Of the lease, when he made
fierce onslaught, accusing Gretchen Of
having been trying TO burn the house.
She covered before him for a 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 howl
he made Off 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 yearT he asked.
zone year. Here Is the lease. 1t
expired month ago. To whom shall
we pay rentf'
'Steiger has disappeared. After dis
covering this looked up the win,
which is on record. II seems that Tag
blatt had a shrew for a wife, and they
were always Quarrellng. Mrs. Tag
Iblatt died first, and when her husband
followed her he left their home to the
devil"
''To the devill" exclaimed Chris and