The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-03-27
THE TRAGEDY OF THE DOOR
BY @, X, Kitchener

VIM. Delaney sided up toward
the entrance of four-story apart
ment house, and after posing his
|forefinger unsteadily for a moment
punched the door bell. No reply.
THE janitor must either have fall
en- into the coal hole or committed
suicide, neither of which, Mr.. De-
lancy ruminated, could be consid-
cred very lamentable.
VIM. Delaney punched stven
times more, each time with a
greater degree of ferocity, and
then gave it up. He took out his
|cigaret case, hiccoughed softly,
passed his handkerchief over his
moist brow and sat down on the
doorstep.
Six bottles of bubble" water,
more or less, imbibed earlier in
the evening, somewhat mitigated
1.-THE seriousness of his situation.
But as hit sat there on the front
|sttps a semblance of Ineligible
thought began to percolate
through his cranial anatomy. De-
lspanr settled over his soul.
A carriage Jared round the cor
ner and drew up btfort the apart
ment house. VIM. Delaney took
notice. From the interior Of the
carriage stepped young woman.
The carriage drove off and the
lyoung woman hurried to the steps.
Half way up she noticed VIM. De-
lancy. She gave a suppressed cry
|of dismay, hesitated an instant,
then swept past him to the door.
Nervously, she sought for the push
button.
VIM. Delaney smiled ."No good
busted" ~
"W-what?" stammered the
lyoung woman.
But VIM. Delaney had resumtd
his seat on tht steps. The young
woman punched the door button
again, and then sat down on the
other end of the steps. She took
out her handkerchief and began to
exhibit all the outward symptoms
/ of weepink.
VIM. Delaney awoke from the
llethargy. Tears always paved the
way directly to his soul.
| hlCt h
VIM. Delaney paused, obviously
for the lack of a word. But from
under the folds of the handker-
chief came an answering voice
which said:
Smith" And the last sob shook
itself loose and floated away.
"Ah-fourth floor" rejoined
the enlightened VIM. Delaney.
"Well," volunteered Miss Smith
of the fourth floor, why don't
Iyou do something?"
VIM. Delaney allowed this out
burst to filter slowly through the
sieve of his thoughts, and calmly
removed his coat. He placed 1t
around her shoulders. The he
gravely descended the steps to the
walk. Returned tothe steps, he
presented himself in military fash
ion before Miss Smith, and tx
Inhibited a handful of small peb-
lbles.
Now" he said, which window
shall I bombard?"
"You might try the first story"
she said.
"The fellow who blows the cor
met lives there" was tht reply,
"and he left last week for the
mountains. He had been warned
Iby friends"
well, then, try the second
STORY"
That's mine," was the laconic
reply.
That's the last hope, them"
she said, Because the third story
| Is untenanted, and / live on the
fourth"
The pebbles slipped from VIM.
lDelancy's fingers and he carefully
wiped his hands. The other end
of the steps looked uninviting 90
he sat down in tho middle. There
was silence for about three min
'utes. Then Miss Smith inquired
In voice of uncertain fortItude.
What time is 1t. please?"
Slowly and reluctantly, VIM.
Delaney drew out his watch. The
hands pOinted to 2 O'Clock. His