Las Vegas optic., 1913-03-13
SHE HAS A GRIEVANCE
By MARY BAILEY.


ing that divided her back porch from
the next one in the Garibaldi fats
wouldn't I, iustl Him talking SO
smooth and pleasant and nodding his
head: Yes, Mrs. Regan Certainly,
Mrs. Regan! as though his mouth was
full Of butterl
Il was just going through the base
ment Of the laundry, when I 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.
4 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, /
thought I'd come around myself and
have look at things
Well says !, I'm glad to have a
few words with you. Not wanting to
cay 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 I 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
70 tell the truth!
Look at my gas stoYe!' ! 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,
1t amt here, but I'll be glad to show it
to you! Here am I, 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 sec about it and he hasn't!
These shelves are two inches too wide
foHany shelf paper and I'm neat wo-
man and I don't like dust over next
the wall, even if It doesn't showl
Nov, put it to you, Mr.. Phelps
says. is that any way to treat a
tenant as pays prompt each month";
No, no, indeed' Mr.. Phelps an
swered. breathless like II you'll ex-
cuse me
Just minute, 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. 1 picked It out when
came in and that was all right, but
how did I know my daughter Mamie
was going to get a craze to have her
hair dyed that reddish tint? You can
seen for youself, Mr.. Phelps, how red
hair won't 90 at all with this pinkish
paper. Mamie has an artistic temp'ra-
ment and she says every time she has
70 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 4
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 a fuss
over! Any man with a 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 I don't see why she picked
put that shade of red for her hair,
even If it is stylish. When win you
send the paperhangers, Mr.. Phelps?
He said at once that he'd see and
started to go, but I stopped him.
aid that besides the gas stove and
he paper and the pantry shelves /
Tanted the floors done over and new
Window shades and new gas fixtures
n the dining room like they have at
drs. Casey's in the next street, and
hat there ought to be new carpet
iown the front stairs. All he did was
lod and say yes and agree with me
md I told him that be was gentle
nan with sense and Kelly might well
axe lesson from him.
When l was opening a closet door
o show him where | needed new
looks he opened the front door and
lid out
I waited and waited a week for
he paperhangers and the new stove
and things and nothing happened. S
md then looked in the telephone
book and called up Mr.. Phelps office. a
Na dealing with that Kelly for me
Then can get the owner!
What do you suppose / got2 Some
snip Of a girl says: Mr.. Phelps left
word to tell Mrs. Regan that he'd gone
% the middle Of Africa for ten years
and was likely to be delayed gettin'
back and for Mrs, Regan to please see
Mr.. Kellyr
Kelly You can't trust any of EN-
says L But wouldn't like to tell Mr..
Phelps what I think Of hlmg He's