The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-08-27
The
BOWeS Street
House
How 1t Came by Its
Repairs
BY IGNORE E. CLANCY
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.


While Glider bent eagerly over the
quarterly report his agent sat back
and watched him uneasily.
He was n big man-this agent-fault-
lessly dressed and benring an air OF
ease and conscious well being very
soothing 10 the senses Faultless. too.
was his manner toward his supetors-
suave. deterrent. but not too deterrent.
All. that is very great thlng-to
smiled. Burson radiated pleasure; II
Glider frowned. Burson breathed a
deprecating regT,t, and yet he never
reused the savage desire TO kick that a
more suppliant and cringing servant
might have done.
For Burson respected himself In
very modest and unobtrusive way. and
thus begat respect In his betters. But
for all that be often experienced trou-
blesome days, and one glance at Mr..
elders lean face had conveyed clear.
ly TO Burson that this was going 10 be
one OF the most troublesome OF them
all.
"Ahem." Glider shut his spectacle
case with n snap and gared at Ills
agent II see profits far below normal
again. sir. | notice In the Bowes
street house alone the bill for plumbing
is over $500 for the past year"
II have been wanting 20 speak to you
about the Bowes street place" began
Burson. extracting letter from the
file at his elbow. you see. Mr.. Glider.
the Bowes street plumbing is Ia pret-
~ bad condition; there's been quite
little agitation recently In some OF
the papers about an epidemic or
typhoid down there. and this morning
/ got this letter from the head of the
social settlement In the district"
Lot of nonsense" was elders only
comment ms be tossed the letter down
half read.
But you see they threaten health
board investigation"
'You ought TO know as well as any
body. Burson. how little we have TO
fear from the board of health"
'Yes, | know they have been very
kind"
"'rhe point is what are you going to
do to bring up this credit balance? At |
the present rate OF decline another year
or two may see the balance on the |
other side altogether" said Glider
Burson faced himself for battle |
though his manner was as suave, as
gracious as ever
II am sorry 20 say, Mr.. Glider, that
! can't see any way of stopping the
leak unless you are prepared to spend
a lump sum on new plumbing. In the
Bowes street place alone thousand
dollars ought to be spent Immediately.
A great many OF the tenements remain
empty simply because they are not hab-
liable. even for the sort of people who
live In thar section. We cannot re-
duce the rents without establishing a
very bad precedent and OF course |
could not put In any very extensive re-
pairs without consulting you"
Extensive repairs" calculated Gil
der. now thoroughly aroused For
heavens sake, Burson. one would
imagine you were letting on Fifth ave
nue. instead of Stun tenements. You
are dealing with class that has no
business to expect luxuries. Its scum
plain scam. demanding new and up
TO date plumbing In its dens."
"Of course what you say is true"
agreed Burson. but times are chang.
ing anywhere. and | can assure you.
sir the people In the tenements now
81 /
ago. II grows increasingly difficult TO
deal with them. and In this Bowes
street house especially we've had no
end of trouble
'0ne of my men was pitched down
the steps only Hst week by burly
giant who declared he wouldn't pay his
rent until the leak from the door above
was stopped. OF course we set him
out, but it's had very bad effect ON
the others, especially as the typhoid is
very bad In the house, and the settle
ment workers have led them to believe
it's entirely due to the pipes"
More likely it's due 10 their own
dirt and tlth" snapped Glider pacing
wrathfully up and down "But look
TO you, BurSon. 10 staighten this out
That's what ! pay you for. and | ex.
pect you TO do it."
IL have been doing my best in
tend TO 20 down there myself this
afternoon aud took the house over. |
am having plumber meet me there 70
submit estimates
AT the word estimates" sudden
CLEAN nf suspicion lit i'm elders eyes
ESTIMATES graft. Aha !
II think IN lust 90 down with you.
Burson. and Wen took il over to-
BurSOu's dismay was evident
"Oh Mr. Glider. I'm sure you
wouldn't like that! You've no idea
how tiithy aud vile the streets and peo-
pie are down there. Ii wouldn't do at : !,
all to go in your car. in the present
state OF things. and I'm sure you
wouidnt relish the ride Oh the street |
,ars"
This served, of course TO fix the idea
only the more firmly in Mr. elders !