The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1913-06-26
SHE HAS A GRIEVANCE
BY MARY BAILEY.

StOOQ COQVerSlng across the low rail-
ing that divided her back porch from
the next one in the Garibaldi flats.
Wouldn't !, just Him talking so
smooth and pleasant and nodding his
head. Yes, Mrs. Regain. Certainly,
Mrs Regan! as though his mouth was
full of butterl
Il was just going through the base
ment of the laundry, when saw him
talking to the janitor and the janitor
calling him Mr. Phelps as polite as
could be. 1t flashed over me here was
my chance.
Il went right up to him when
heard the name. Are you the Mr..
Phelps that owns the building?' says
l. Are you the landlord?' Yes,
madam, says he, kind of startled like
Mr. Kelly, the agent being sick, l
thought I'd come around myself and
have look at things
Well says ], I'm glad to have
few words with you. Not wanting to
say anything against any one when
he's not here, won't tell you how that
man Kelly has deceived and brow
beaten me and said yes and acted no
to few simple little requests l had
to make. If that man Kelly was to be
asked his own name point blank he'd
say it was Jones just because he hates
to tell the truth
Look at my gas stove.' l says.
No | says impatient, for Mr.. Phelps
looked around the basement kind of
r-i11 bot, erT~ ba cd 70 tho
stove there among the laundry tubs,
it amt here, but I'll be glad to show 1t
to youl Here am l, working myself
to skin and bone trying to 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 was 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 it and he HASN'T
These shelves are two inches too wide
for any shelf paper and I'm a neat wo-
man and l don't like dust over next
the wall, even if it doesn't show!
Now, l put it to you, Mr.. Phelps,
l says, is that any way to treat a
tenant as pays prompt each month";
mo, no, indeed! Mr.. Phelps an.
swered, GREATNESS like. If you'll ex-
cuse me
"'Just a minute l says, taking him
by the arm. While you're here | want |
you to come upstairs and look at the |
wall paper in my parlor. I've had |
Mr.. Kelly look at it every time I've |
seen him and he's agreed that | should |
have it done over and then he doesn't |
do it, OF course, l picked it out when
| came in and that was all right, but
how did l know my daughter Mamie
was going to get craze to have her
hair dyed that reddish tint? You can
seen for youself, Mr.. Phelps, how red
hair won't go at all with this pinkish
paper. Mamie has an artistic tempra-
ment and she says every time she has
to come into this room it makes her
feel faint and she is neglecting her
piano practice something shocking
just because she can't stand her hair
next to this paper.
Henry Dilbeck. the plumber
around the corner | says, is paying
particular attention to Mamie and,
goodness knows, she 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 so keen on being made fuss
overl Any man with heart, Mr.
Phelps l says, would feel sorry for
Mamie and not let the price of a few
rolls of paper spoil her life, poor girl
Though | don't see why she picked
out that shade of red for her hair,
even if it is stylish. When will you
send the paperhangers, Mr. Phelps?'
He said at once that he'd see and !
started to go, but l stopped him. |
said that besides the gas stove and s
the paper and the pantry shelves !
wanted the floors done over and new
window shades and new gas fixtures =,
IN the dining room like they have at !,
Mrs. Casey's in the next street, and !.
hat there ought to be a new carpet
Town the front stairs. All he did was 7
lod and say yes and agree with me t
md l told him that he was gentle
nan with sense and Kelly might we'll \
axe a lesson from him. \
when l was opening closet door T
O show him where l needed new
looks he opened the front door and
lid out
Il waited and waited a week for
he paperhangers and the new stove
md things and nothing happened,
nd then l looked in the telephone
ook and called up Mr.. Phelps office.
10 dealing with that Kelly for me
,hen I can get the ownerl
What do you suppose | got? Some
nip of girl says: Mr.. Phelps left
ord to tell Mrs. Regain that he'd gone
} the middle of Africa for ten years
nd was likely to be delayed gettin'
ack and for Mrs Regan to please see
If. Kelly!'
Kelly! You can't trust any of EN-,
avs l. But wouldn't like to tell Mr..
helps wha | think of him? He's
orsen Keli. Chicago Daily News.
Tit for Tat.