Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-09-15
Phe
BoWes Street
House
How 1t Came by Its
Repairs
BY LENORE E. CLANCY
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co

x Copyright by Frank A. Munsey GO. K
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While Glider bent eagerly over the
quarterly report his agent sat back
and watched him uneasily.
He was big man-this agent-fault-
lessly dressed and bearing an air Of
ease and conscious well being very
soothing to the senses. Faultless, too.
was his manner toward his superors-
suave. deterrent. but not too deterrent.
All. that is a very great thing-to
acquire manner like that. II Glider
smiled. Burson radiated pleasure; II
Glider .frowned. Burson breathed a
deprecating regret, and yet be never
reused the savage desire to kick that
more suppliant and cringing servant
might have done.
For Burson respected himself. In q
very modest and unobtrusive way. and
thus begat respect in his betters. But
for all that he often experienced treu-
blesome days. and one glance at Mr..
elders lean face had conveyed clear
ly to Burson that this was going to be
one Of the most troublesome Of them
all.
"Ahem" Glider shut his spectacle
case with snap and glared 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."
.I have been wanting to 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 in pref
ty bad condition; there's been quite
a little agitation recently in some Of
the papers about an epidemic Of
| typhoid down there. and this morning
I got this letter from the head Of the
social settlement in the district"
Lot Of nonsense" was elders only
comment as he tossed the letter down
half read.
"But you see they threaten a 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. I know they have been very
kind"
1.-THE 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 fer battle,
though his manner was as suave. AS
gracious as ever.
II am sorry to say. Mr.. Glider, that
| can't see any way Of stopping the
leak unless you are prepared to spend
lump sum OH 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-
table, even for the sort of people who
live in that section. We cannot re-
duce the rents without establishing
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 slum tenements: You
are dealing with class that has no
business to expect luxuries. It's scum
plain scum. demanding new and up
to date plumbing In its dens."
"Of course what you say IS true.'
agreed Bursou. but times are chang
ing everywhere. and can assure you.
sir. the people in the tenements now
are not the sort we had there ten years
ago. 1t grows increasingly diff cult to
deal with them. and in this BOwes
street house especially we've had no
end Of trouble.
zone Of my men was pitched down
the steps only last week by burly
giant who declared he wouldn't pay his
rent until the leak from the floor above
was stopped. OF course We set him
out. but it's had very bad effect Oh
the others, especially as the typhoid is
very bad In the house. and the settle
ment workers have led them to believe
its entirely due to the pipes"
more likely it's due to their own
dirt and flth!' snapped Glider. pacing
wrathfully up and down. "But look
to you. Burson, to straighten this out
That's what pay you for. and ! e1-
pect you to do It"
II have been doing my best. I in
tend to 80 down there myself this
afternoon and look the house over.
am having plumber meet me there to
submit estimates"
At the word estimates" sudden
gleam Of suspicion lit In elders eyes.
"Estimates-graft! Aha!'
IT think I'll just 60 down with you.
Burson. and we'll look 1t over to-
gether."
Burson's dismay was evident
"Oh, Mr.. Glider. I'm sure you
wouldn't like that! You've no idea
how filthy and vile the streets and peo.
pie are down there. It wouldn't do at
all to go in your car. in the present
state Of things. and I'm sure you
wouldn't relish the ride on the street
cars"
This served, of course, to fix the idea
only the more firmly in Mr.. elders
mind. He would certainly go; Of that
| Burson might be certain.
Once having made the resolution he
forged calmly ahead. but before he had
traversed half the distance from the
street car to the entrance Of the Bowes
street house he had begun to realize
some Of the difficulties Of which Bur-
son had spoken. For one thing 1t was
hottie middle of September-und the
smells were almost Overpowering
! Hawkers with cans Of lukewarm
water, In which fOated half cooked
ears Of green corn. others with slices
l Of watermelon cut In the early morn'
Ing and now covered with flth and
dies, were everywhere In the dusty
streets.
Added to these were the roar Of the
not distant elevated. the screaming OF
innumerable babies and the shrill