Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-26

OTTUMWA SEMI-WE
children falling down them? Sir Het
tor Kilsluthery was at loss to under
stand why well appointed house wa
not fitted with doubled windows fror
top to bottom back and front
| was soon grinding my teeth; then
| perceived that, if they were at los
to understand, had better be unabl
to see my way. | replied that / coul'
not see my way to make these structul
al alterations "a good filling phrase o
Miss Wishart's, that but gave then
permission to make the mthemselves
On Jacks suggestion, signed all thu
letters Garth and Thurman" He sait
it would be safer; that, if did not,
might have my tenants bothering nj
about things out of business hours
, whenever they CHANGED to meet me.
was quite sure that they would, ant
jumped at his suggestion. Now, wher
they tackled me- could always refer
them to Garth and Thurman. It turn
ed out very useful.
The letters done, l wrestled witt
leases, assessments and repairing con
tracts. trying to get the hang of things
Jack assured me that my uncle haG
paid too much for everything; that
should need fresh contracts; and prob
ably fresh contractors: and it would
mean studying dozens Of price lists to
check them. 1t was cheerful news.
Then he said :'Ive come across one
curious thing Number 9 pays no
rent"
'"The deuce it Doesn't" said I. We'll,
suppose it wouldn't. My uncle al
ways told me that it was an unlucky
house 1t has been on fire: the water
pipes burst every winter: the roof will
suddenly leak without just cause; and
poor little Mrs. Bulkeley committed
suicide there by jumping out of Sec
ond floor window. Pm not really sur
prised that it doesn't pay rent"
Yes; here's a letter from the ten
ant ]. Quintus Scruton, to Siddle
and Wodgett. saying that he has ar
ranged with your uncle to have the
house rent free and your uncle has en-
dorsed the letter"
81 must look into this said. And
reached for my uncle's record, which
had handy on my desk, and turned
up Number 9.
1t had indeed black record-eleven
tenants in fifteen years.
The last entries ran:
Tenant: J. Quintus Scruton. Gum
from New Zealand. Age
about forty-seven. Widower. No fam
lily - Theosophist.
Servants: Butler. chef, two footmen
and eight other females
Vehicles: Nine.
Lease: Seven, fourteen or twenty
one years, at two thousand pounds a
year
February 20: Painful discovery =
the house is haunted"
That was all: no dossier Of the ghost
no reason why the gum millionaire
paid no rent. We discussed the matter
and came to the conclusion that the
best thing to do was to write him to
him demanding prompt payment of the
last quarters rent. Then he would in
form us Of the reason. Miss Wishart
wrote the letter. and when I signed
It. I struck work for the day. I had a
strong feeling at the moment that
mine was delicately poised brain. and
that it needed to be accustomed to the
strain of work quietly and by slow de-
grees. told Jack and Miss Wishart
this: Miss Wjshart smiled; but Jack
said in grumbling tone:
81 wanted you to put in a little work
1T some price lists of house fittings.
You ought to 20 carefully into the mat
er Of house fittings"
II will tomorrow" | said. "And I!
see that the sooner ACQUIRE a defen.
five habit of procrastination, the safer i
shall be-"
With that I left them.
The next morning after ! had an
;wered thirty-nine letters. / did betako !
myself to the study of the prices OF |
'ouse fittings and it was tedious job
lack suggested that l should get |
more profound understanding of house
hose had not been able to refuse my |
and go come to know
he house fitting in it's lair. After
unch, having answered eleven more !,
etters, four from tenants. which came
" the two-o clock post, l went. After
hree hours among the house fittings.
came home broken man. 1t seemed
o me that house fittings we're the
tudy Of lifetime: and that I ought
o have begun it the moment went to
ton.
Parkhurst met me with the informa-
ion that Mr.. J. Quintus Scruton had
allied to see mo on business, and was
waiting me in the library. I was feel
1e very strongly that had been house
gent enough for one day: but bust
ess was business and had to see
i'm. AS went up the stairs it oc-
urred to me that the affair seemed
ueer. That J. Quintus Scruton might
e out after the gullible peer. 1t seem
d pity he should not find one. I
tuck my eye glass in my eye, opened
~ mouth and went into the library,
'oking as gullible a young peer as any
ne could wish to see. had found the
'ok useful before.
Mr.. J. Quintus Scruton rose as I en- .
sred. He was broad. thin, active
'cking man. torpedo bearded with .
eeply lined brown face, out of which
.uck big hooked nose. He looked as