The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-05-03
TO RENT, FsRN|sHED
BY HARMONY WELLER.


They lived In the same neighborhood
and patronized the same bookstalls.
0fen he had let his eyes rest upon
her as she stood looking over the cur
rent magazines, and on one rare oc-
casion he had followed her into the
elevated train and journeyed as far as
Thirty-fourth street. She had left the
train there, no doubt to shop. The re-
mainder OF the daily trip to Rector
street had seemed sorry affair to
Vance.
| Vance had long ago made certain
that she was not business girl in
the strict sense of the word Other
wise he would have had the joy of
riding each morning in the elevated
with her. Vance would have seen to
II that he caught the well-timed
train.
For an habitually level-headed man
Vance had done rather senseless
thing in falling in love with girl
whom he had not the power to be-
come acquainted with. AT least that
power had not made itself manifest
nor had kindly fate come along to
help him in his love affair
Kindly fate did not enter the affair
until Vance had been gazing in silerA
admiration for nearly three months at
the girls alluring beauty.
One bright morning in early May
Vance noticed that as the girl stood In
the bookstall she had made the pur-
chase of sign, on which was printed
in bold letters Room to Let
For the first time since catching
sight OF her Vance followed her
stealthily home.
When he had made sure of the
number OF the more or less shabby
iwelling In which she lived, Vance
went back to the elevated station and
iown to business. When he returned
from the office and made his way to-
ward the address of the girl he saw
The sign In the window of room that
seemed to be three flights up.
He mounted the brown stone steps
leading to the front door and was ad-
mitted by slatternly woman. Vance
hoped it was not the wonder-girl's
parent.
The woman was neither polite nor
gracious. but told him there was one
On the top floor. He could go up and
see 1t If he wanted to. With that she
shufied or to the basement and left
Vance to find his way up those three
flights of stairs.
Once there he succeeded in gaining
bis breath, then stood gazing at the
closed doors Of four rooms.
After seconds thought he reasoned
our the room that had the sign In 1t
and knocked on the door.
He drew sharp breath when the
girl herself opened 1t. For a moment
she. too, was nervously silent
This room" blurted Vance, sudden
Iy. SIS to let-isn't it?"
The girl found voice and command
n the situation first and opened the
ioor for him to enter. Vance did SO
and saw cozy room that was ap-
parently the den of writer.
my landlady is most disagreeable, !"
,he girl told Vance, and there was a
sparkle of mirth in her eyes. Il have
contracted for this room for year
and she refuses to let me go until
September. II / can sublet it-of
course, she cannot object"
Vance heaved sigh of relief. The
Pcnder-girl was in no way connected
with the awful person who had let him
INTO the house.
Il haven't any furniture" he said.
= thought the room would be fur
aished."
"Oh-I do want to let it furnished"
she told him quickly. "You see," she
added shyly, Il have been selling lots
II stories lately and can afford few
months at the sea. But" she sighed,
4 am a prisoner in town SO long as
This room hangs on my hands" Her
eyes were looking softly into Vance's
,wn. The man wondered afterward
now he refrained from telling her at
their very first meeting just how des-
pNtAttiJ hC tOfGA h1i aAd htA0 tNsNN
her for three long months. He did
nave the temerity to speak quite frank
ly and, looking with peculiar meaning
II her, said:
"It you will select summer hotel
near enough for city man to run
down to each weekend l will take
this room and consider myself most
lucky person"
The wonder-girl tried not to admit
the meaning in HIS look, but a soft
color creeping into her cheeks told
Vance that she quite understood the
situation He smiled and the girl
caught the smile and responded.
My landlady is the most awful per-
son you can imagine and win want
Il my furniture in the autumn when |
return to town and you won't like so
many stairs to climb and" she would
have said more in her nervous excite
ment had Vance not laughed aloud to
relieve the strain.
II can stand anything" he told her.
80 long as you permit me your friend
ship during the coming summer"
yapca wnttad n trtfia braath1easlv for