Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1911-05-12
DISPUTED
POSSESSION
BY EDITH v. ROSS
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

! Mr.. Robert Eldridrc has just signed a
/ lease of the property"
Il understood that you gave me n
/ refusal"
~ on were Mistaken"
+ Miss Martintlale had suddenly diScov.
cred that she wanted the hat in uues-
ton very much. She was disappointed.
I'm going to have ii anyway" she
said
Il would like to know how:'' asked
| MIR. Rogers
II know who this man Eldrd-e is.
| he's Bob EIdrigc of the .\thcneum club.
a bachelor. lie doesn't need the that
and do He has no family. while l
have my mother and little brother
Twill You kindly inform lie what
that has to do with property for which
written least. has been ;.ivca:"
NO. but will show you"
Miss MHrtindale lived across tho
street from the apartment house in
question. and when she saw Bob Ell
bridge enter it she went over and lp
to the fiat. Opening the door. she
went in and. seeing tho gentleman
there. looked surprised.
IF YOU are looking at this flat" she
said. with Il view to taking it you are
too late. | have just notified the agent
that ] would take it,"
pardon me. madam" with in apollo
getic smile. lit is you who are mistak-
Ell. ! have my lease here in my pock-
ct
Ec took ii out and showed it to her.
She waved it aside. That's moth
Ing" she said. "Evcrybody knows
that verbal lease is good. Mine is
verbal l have had the refusal of
these rooms for week"
'You must be mistaken. Mr.. Rog-
ers said nothing about having given
any one il REFUSAL
II am not accountable for Mr.. Rog-
ers' plumbers l must ask you to rc-
tire. am DESTROYS of having the
rooms cleaned before moving in and
wish to see what's to be done"
Did Mr.. Rogers give you the kcy?"
NO: he said that you had taken the
key
"1Ic gave it to me. will retire
You can easily get out from Within"
Now. Mr.. Eldridge was gallant man
and would doubtless have scorned to
push his claims. however just. against
a woman. But in this case the lady
was under the disadvantage Of being
very attractive. l say disadvantage
because her attractivcncsS prompted
Mr. Eldridge to enter upon Il contest
with her that he might thus bring
about an acquaintance. lie bowed
himself out very politely. hat in hand
and departe.l-with the key.
Miss Martndalc noticed this feature.
Of the case and felt that she had re-
ceiveu u check. She knew that the
key is nine points in the law govern
Ing the occupancy of houses and con
sidercd herself temporarily defeated.
She had no key from which to have Il
duplicate made. She might get
lOcksmith to come and fit Il key. but
that would require time. and mean
while MIR. Eldridgc might move in In
any event he had u key to the prem
iscs and could get In when he liked
Miss Martindalc concluded to change
her tactics. She wrote note to Mr..
Eldrdgc. which She sent through Mr..
Rogers. stating that since it seemed
that there had been Il mistake made
by the agent in renting the premises
to two different persons she thought
the one least needing them should
give way To the other: that she repre-
scented a family of three and il MIR.
Eldridge stood for more than that she
would give way to him. If not she
thought he should give way to her.
Mr.. Eldrdge replied that he had
rented the fiat intending TO turn It over
Tor Il meetin. place and supply depot
for Il ladies' charitable society: there
fore he thought that Miss Martindale
should give way to this society.
Miss Martin,lale knew that this was
subterfnge. but she didn't see how
should could take that ground with
Mr.. El,lridge. Again. she felt that she
was defeated. and again she changed
her tactics. Feeling confidence in her
persuasive powers-with she
wrote Mr. Eldridge second note,
sending it through the same medium.
proposing conference. Mr.. Eldridye.
instead OF replying to the note. sur
prised her with Il call.
Mr.. Eldritlge was dressed with far
more care than was to he expected in
ono who had called on Il mere matter
Of business. lie wore frock coat.
blue cravat with white dots and gloves
without blcmish. Miss Martindalc re-
ceived him graciOusly and was sure
they would reach an understanding.
She proposed compromise, He as
sented. Then she named compro-
mise which would be perfectly salts
factory-viz, that Mr. Eldridge give up
tho HAT To her.
Mr.. Eltlritlse leaned back in his sea-
and smiled one Of his most fascinat
ing smiles.
They got no further during the even,
ing nor during Il number of evenings
that Mr.. Eldridge made other calls.
The fiat remained vacant, MIR Eldrdye