The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-05
The Epenine Story
The Landlord.
(By Louise Oliver.)

taken one, illness the other. and even
Ben. her college brother, couldn't
make his spring vacation coincide with
moving time.
Violet, she had managed to get china,
rugs and furniture into shape for
transportation across the city to the
cozy new bungalow in the hillside
above the river.
After all it was Cornelia's own idea,
the bit of country and the roomy,
spreadout place with wide verandas
and fruit trees, so different from the
high, narrow city house, the counter
part of thousands on streets exactly
alike except for the names.
Mr.. and Mrs. Anderson had taken
root, SO to speak, in the brick and
cement of the city and it had taken
many months of persuasion for Corne-
liza to convince them that view and
fresh aid and individuality would com
pensate for inconvenience in getting
to town and that the reduced expense
of living would in time enable them
to buy a motor car.
For days Cornelia had secured
agencies and scanned lists, waded
through mud and lost her way, ruined
clothes and caught colds, and alto
gether it had been a most dishearten-
ing process. But her courage remain
ed mistaken and her will at last found
a way for one day she came across
what she wanted-exactly. A bunga-
low on a hillside with a superb view
of the river. This was no mere house,
it was explained to her at the office,
the owner having built it for himself,
but he was an Englishman and had
gone to war and was now somewhere
in the trenches in France.
Moving day came. Cornelia rose at
six and after a hurried breakfast took
the car to her future home. 1t was
wonderful morning, cool and brisk,
and even the bare streets of the city
had found it impossible to crowd out
spring. Bits of clover and grass were
making green patches in every avail
able inch of ground, dead looking
branches were being rapidly covered
with yellowish green buds, and behind
several iron fences brave patches of
tulips and jonquils bloomed. AS the
car sped on and the distances between
houses widened, nature showed her
hardfwork in gardens of wonderful
shrubs and spring flowers.
stIt,s just like getting out of Jail"
thought Cornelia, watching fat robin
on lawn tug at worm 1T is worth
all the tramping and hard work to be
able to live in the country. can hard
ly believe it is true"
The conductor began to call stations
instead of streets, At one of these Cor
nelia got off and made her way along
the rCaQS toward the maven on LE0 NIL
that was to be her home.
She mounted the steps of the terrace
and took out her key. Then the hum
of a powerful motor caught her ear.
Down the road were coming two i'm
mense trucks loaded with furniture!
Some one else moving out this
way!" she commented and inserted
her key in the lock. The sound ceased
and she looked around. The trucks
had stopped in front of the bungalow.
Il don't see how they could get here
SO quickly" Her brows drew together.
Mr.. O'Hagan said it would be an
hour"
Then around the corner of the house
came a man who called, Hello, Dor
gan, come on and help me get door
open. I forget to get the keysi" Then,
seeing Cornelia with her key in the
lock. he hurried up the steps. Good
morning, I see the agent has sent
out the keys. Stupid of me to forget
them, but the arrangement was made
by phone and 1 never thought of
them. But it was kind of you to bring
them. I thank you very much
Il don't quite understand" said
Cornelia. 81 rented this house week
ago and we are moving in this morn
ing. There seems to be some mis-
take. McAlpin & Co. are the agents,
and if you are not convinced you can
call them and ask about it,
The man regarded her quietly for
a minute. She was very pretty, was
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES one would have
said that his mind was not entirely
upon the fact that someone else was
trying to move into the same doniciIe
with himself
Cornelia, in turn, slightly belliger-
ent, but calm withal, saw a tall pale
man, we'll dressed, who held his hat
with the grace of the king of Spain,
opxr ot har xya11-hrad monarch
What shall we do to McAlpin &
Co. % asked the man quietly. "They
assured me the property was without
a tenant and that l could certainly
move in. But, you see, such large
agencies. with SO many clerks, do
make mistakes. However, to annihi-
late them won't help matters much,
will it? That wouldn't change the
house into two houses And for us
to demolish one another wouldn't do
either, would it, because''-he paused
an instant, well, because it wouldn't.
You said we We're moving in. That
implies a family" interrogatively.
Eyes, my father and mother and
brother. I am Cornelia Anderson
so you see, to do away with you
still leaves a father and mother and
brother. Now with me it,; different.
TIM alone! And if you will only look
ct me with a little more tolerance, I
will beat a hasty retreat and take my
cook stove and rocking chairs along
with me-
Cornelia, completely Modified. held
out the key. Under tie circum-
stances we have no more right to the
house than you have. I can't posi-
bly, move our furniture into it know
ing that I am leaving an American
and a gentleman out in the cold world
without any home"
They laughed together. But" he
protested, you wouldn't exactly be
leaving mewithout a home. I really
was only going to use the place as a
sort of storage house for my things
for the time being-not a home, you
see. at least for some time to come
Moreover, the world isn't cold-not
now. 1 thought it was a little dreary
have frightened wonderfully. Be-