The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1912-01-20
.8@E.E7=E@@
This House to Rent"
By BRYANT C. ROGERS
Cepyrieht, 1o11. b. Associated Literary PEess.l
By BRYANT C. ROGERS

SoC1a1Go
massive door, society or the police
| would have to use a battering ram to
get at him. His collection of books
numbered only three volumes, but he
wasn't worrying about that One can
go to a department store any day and
ask the person at the book counter to
recommend and send home a couple
of thousand books! They will reach
the house almost as soon as you do"
Charles" said the aunt one day
when he called, els that house nearly
done?"
when we have put up a towel
rack in the kitchen We shall be ready
for the grand opening" was the
deply.
Who is to select the furnishings"
"My wife, Of course"
La! la Do you still hold TO what
you said-that the first young lady
over the Intel should be your
{ choice?"
81 most certainly do"
But suppose she is red-headed.
cross-eyed and club-footed ?"
my dear Aunt Darboy, the word Of
a Westcott is sacred. The first thing
in skirts to enter the new house gets
a proposal of marriage from yours
truly. If she rejects it with scorn.
don't blame me-"
The house was ready for the bach
elor to take up his quarters in. but
he hung on at his club. Under those
circumstances no skirt" could very
well appear Mrs Darboy showed GER
tain of her friends through the
Ranch as she called it, but they
were either married ladies or young
ones already spoken for. The one
whom her nephew was to fall in love
with and marry kept far away.
Don't you see how it is?" he asked
one day. I've got to resort to an
enticement Tomorrow 1 shall hang
out a sign and coax my bird in. Won
der l didn't think of that before.
And the next day a sign reading
/ ''This House to Rent" appeared on
the front door, and a man was sta
toned on the steps to answer Ques-
tons.
A mile away lived the Widow Glen
dening She had a daughter, Myrtle.
and the house she occupied was rent
ed. It had been rented for year
that mother and daughter might look
about little before buying. Miss
Myrtle had passed and repassed the
new house while it was building, and
she had stood and surveyed 1t with
envy when completed, but she had not
learned the name Of the owner. Who
ever it was would occupy it himself,
of course. Of a sudden the sign ap-
peared 1t had not been out an hour
when the girl stopped before it and
asked of the man smoking his pipe on
the steps:
But I'd rather buy than rent. Do
you suppose they'd SELF"
Cant say, miss. One can never tell
what folks will do. There's a lean
man and his fat wife in there now
and there comes a tall man and his
short wife to do the same thing. Bet
ter take a look and make up your
mind"
''But want to tell mother and fetch
hcs,," was protested.
Never wait for your mother miss
mot when there's such a mansion
as this on the market. TIN be snapped
up in 80 seconds after your back is
| turned"
Then I'll run in and look it over"
The lean man and his fat wife, who
were going from room to room, vel
coined Miss Myrtle with hostile looks,
but she went skipping from place to
place and finally came to that wonder
full library. The others had already
explored it. The door stood open, and
as she entered it the girl gave it a
push. 1t shut and there was a click
It was one of Mr.. Westcott's spring
lock ideas to fasten himself in when
he wanted to mediate.
Miss Myrtle sprang to the door and
pounded on it Then she called. Then
she screamed for the police and fire
departments. From ten o'clock in the
morning until nine in the evening,
and the last two hours in darkness!
The lean man and his fat wife went
about their business, the tall man and
his short wife didn't penetrate as far
as the library, and dozen others
tried the door and went away thinking
the room might hold old hats and
shoes.
At nine O'Clock Mr.. Westcott appear
ed, switched on the lights to see TO
smoke by, and after a start of surprise
at the huddled and weeping figure on
the floor he rushed over to it with the
exclamation:
my poor-poor child. but 1 said
would do it. and surely will"
rs Charles going to marry Miss
! Glendening?" repeated Aunt Darboy
three months later to a gossipy caller.
He is a Westcott never breaks his
world"