The Marshall republican., 1913-01-17
SHE HAS A GRIEVANCE
BY MARY BAILEY.

.Shto1 -, Wv "a
ing that divided her back porch from
the next one In the Garibafdi flats
wouldn't I. Just! Him talking SO
smooth and pleasant and nodding his
head: Yes. Mrs. Regain Certainly.
Mrs. Regan!' as though his mouth .
full Of butter!
Il was just going through the base
ment OF the laundry, when I saw him
talking to the janitor and the janitor
a calling him Mr.. Phelps as polite as
could be. Il flashed over me here was
my chance.
Il went right up TO him when I
heard the name. Are you the Mr..
Phelps that owns the building7' says
L. Are you the landIord7' Yes,
madam, says he, kind OF startled like.
Mr.. Kelly, the agent being sick, I
thought Id come around myself and
have a look at things
WELL says I, I'm glad to have a
few words with you. Not wanting to
say anything against any one when
he's not here. I won't tell you how that
man Kelly has deceived and brow
beaten me and said yes and acted mo-
TO a few simple little requests I had
TO make. II that man Kelly was TO be
asked his " name point blank he'd
say IL was Jones just because he hates
TO tell the truth!
" LOOK at my gas stovel' I says.
No / says impatient, for Mr.. Phelps
looked around the basement kind OF
wild. as though he expected TO see the
stove there among the laundry tubs.
II amt here, but Ill be glad 10 show it
to you! Here an I. working myself
TO skin and bone trying 10 keep the
nickel on that stove bright and it
looks like old Junk And he up and
says he won't furnish a new one be-
cause this vas new last year. And
me asking him polite and gentle for
new shelves in the pantry every time
I've laid eyes on him, and him saying
he'd see about II and he HASN'T
These shelves are two inches too wide
for any shelf paper and I'm a neat wo-
man and | don't like dust over next
the wall. even II II doesn't show!
Now. | put II to you. Mr.. Phelps.'
I says. is that any way 10 treat a
tenant as pays prompt each month";
mo. no. indeed Mr.. Phelps an
swered. GREATNESS like. II you II ex-
cuse me-
Just a minute I says. taking him
by the arm While you're here | want
you to come upstairs and look at tho
wall paper In my par;or. I've had
Mr.. Kelly look ut IL every time I've
seen him and he's agreed that | should
have IL done over and then he doesn't
do IL! or course. I picked Il out when
| came In and that was all right, but
how did ! know my daughter Mamie
was going 10 get a craze TO have her
hair dyed that reddish tint7 You ian
seen for youself. MIR. Phelps. how red
hair won't go at ell with this plnklsh
paper. Mamie has an artistic temp'ra-
ment and she says every time she has
TO come into this room Il makes her
feel faint and she 10 neglecting her
plano practice something shocking
just because she can't stand her hair
next TO this paper.
Henry Dilbeck, the plumber
around the corner | says. Ia paying
particular attention to Mamie and.
goodness knows, abe may lose him.
feeling so awful about the paper and
not being able TO concentrate her at.
tention on him as she ought. men be-
ing 80 keen on being made a fuss
over! Any man with q heart, Mr..
Phelps I says. would feel sorry for
Mamie and not let the price OF a few
rolls Of paper spoil her life. poor girl!
Though l don't see why she picked
out that shade OF red for her hair.
even II Il Is stylish. When will you
send the ~paperhangers. Mr.. Phelpsf'
He said at once that he'd see and
started to go. but stopped him. I
said that besides the gas stove and
the paper and the pantry shelves |
wanted the floors done owe and new
window shades and new a fixtures
in the dining room like they have az
Mrs. Casey's in the next street. rid
that there ought TO be a new carpet
down the front stairs. All ha did was
nod and say yes ard agree with me
and l told him that ne was a gentle
man with sense and Kelly might well
take a lesson from him.
When ] was opening a close, door
10 show him where l needed new
hooks he opened the front door ana
slid out
Il waited and waited a week for
he paperhansers and the Q stove
and things and nothing happened.
and then I looked In the telephone
book and called up Mr.. Phelps office.
No dealing with that Kelly for ma
when ! can get the owner!
What do you suppose l gotf Some
snip OF a girl says: Mr.. Phelps LETT
word to tell Mrs. Regan that he'd gone
to the middle of Africa for ten years
and was likely to be delayed settin'
back and for Mrs. Regan to please sea
Mr.. Kelly!'
Kelly! You can't trust any Of 'em.
says l. But wouldn't l like to tell Mr..
Phelps what I think Of him! He's
worsen kellyi"-Chicago Daily News