The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1917-03-30
PARADISE RATs
b. OLIVE oRAY.

puQule or water, the soup iNuueu Al
her lap, and over all spread her um-
brella like a hugh snuffer, pouring riy-
ulets OF water down her neck.
The man with whom she had collidcd
at the windswept corner apoIogized.
Dlsposlns Of his own umbrella he
seized hers, lifted It awas from the
wreck and assisted Peggy To her feet.
"Are you hdrtT' he asked.
NO" she answered, shaking the
soup out Of her skirt. "But poor Mrs.
Mally will have to do without her sup
per, I'm afraid"
That's too bad. I'm terribly sorry.
1t was oil my fault. Is there anything
Gun do to make II upY"
Peggy hesltated, which give the man
a chance TO see just what Kind OF per-
son II wus7he had encountered 80 fOrcl-
big. III the half light, with the street
lamp giving an Uncertain, CHASTITY gllin-
mer, Peggy looked 50 ethereal that
the young man had feeling that she
was going to disappear into the mist
and float away. But with all her pale
ness she was almost too beautiful to be
real.
YES" she answered, all Unconscious
Of what was going on In the others
mind, there ls something. Mrs. Mally
is very sick and she can't have any
thing but broth. There is restauraht
about hnIf a block away. I've just.
COME from there, bit I've got to hurry
Oh to Mrs. Maliy's right awas. The
bldg might fall downstairs and Patsy
Is probably making meal bff the
MATCHES while I'm here talking. SO IL
you don't. mind, you might bring the
soup and I'll run along to look after
the family"
"Sure, I'll get the soup. Is there
anything else7"
Nothing, thank you. les the Para
disc tenement across the street there
fifth floor.
aPhradise tenement!" He Looked at
the high. gloomy building With broken
windows and rickety steps. 1T doesh't
look I'll"
A few minutes later he knocked at a
door at tie head Of the. fourth, flight
OF stairs, stairs, that etssked and
swayed with his weight.
Peggy opened the door. SIT didn't
take you long," she greeted him.
wont you come int"
TIN dripping wet" he protested,
waiting to be c6axed. &
"Oh, that doesn't matter. The roof
leaks in forty places anyway. Come
ih."
"Bat, this is the darndest place
Was ever IN. It isn't safe for you to be
here, Is It--witti IN the dambiiess hfd
everythihgf"
Just as safe for me as for these kid
dies and that poor sick soul in there g
nodding toward the next room. "And
I'm only here evenings, while they're
here all the time. l live on the other
side Of town. Mrs. Mally does my
washing that's how l discovered
her"
."Who the-who owns this placer II
ought to be reported to the department
Of public safety"
"The Everett HeaI Estate compahy."
Are you stte5'
"Yes. At least that's where ! paid
last months rent"
lie looked around. Plaster and pa
per we're falling from the walls, papers
and old rags we're sttffed into broken
windows, and, MS PeggS said. II rhihed
almost as hard inside as out.
The baby crept over and pulled itself
up TO his knee. He lifted II to his lap
and opened a sticky little hand. Dig
cling down into his pocket he produced
a bill. "Here, little chip. This might
help generally. Give II to the lady,"
You mustn't do that" cried Peggy,
when she had extricnted The donation
and noted the amount.
"Oh, yes, / mustl It's to get nurse
to relieve you and some proper food
and all the rest Of TINT Samaritan
stun. And I'm going to see about tx
ing up this death trap. l stand In with
the Everett Real Estate company. you
see. Now must be going. Good
nlghtl" he said, rising.
Goodnight" said Peggy, holding
out her hand. "And thank you, oh, so
very, very much"
And he turned toward the. stairs,
feeling that he had left something very
valuable behind.
The next day Peggy looked up from
her desk. One OF the stenographers
was talking.
did you know the boss was back7"
agt