The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-22

1T isn't I'd like to sho-9 you the
inside"
Til bring the soup right away" he
answered.
A few minutes later he knocked at
a door at the head of the fourth flight
of stairs, stairs that creaked and
sWayed with his weight. patched here
and there like half-soled shoes with
boards OF any size and shape. He had
tr1pped on one of these and Mrs Nal
~ was in danger for a second time
that evening of losing her supper.
Peggy opened the door. TT didn't
take you long she greeted him.
Won't you come IMP
I'm dripping wet he protested,
waiting to be coaxed.
"Oh, that doesn't matter. The roof
leaks in forty places anyway. I've put
d1shpans and plates and buckets
around, but the baby drinks UP the
rainwater. so L had to take them away.
The carpets irrigated until you could
grow rice. Come in She drew for
ward a broken chair and placed it be-
side the table with the lamp.
Say, this is the darnedest place 1
was ever in. Nearly broke my neck on
| those stairs. 1t isn't safe for you to be
here, is it-with all the dampness and
everything" In the lamplight Peggy
! looked prettier than ever, not quite
so ethereal as when he first saw her
but still pale, and circles under her
eyes told of overwork and loss of
sleep.
Just as safe for me as for these
i kiddies and that poor sick soul in
there!" nodding toward the next room.
"And I'm only here evenings, while
they're here all the time 1 live on the
| other side of town. Mrs. Ma1ly does
my washing-that's how 1 discovered
| her"
| "Who tfle-who owns this place? It
| Hrf FOL r W.. 4k,0
of public safety
The Everett Real Estate Com
pany.''
Are you sure?''
Yes. At least that's where I paid
| last months rent
| He was thoughtful. 'fWhy didn't
you tell them at the office how things
were?"
Tell them? I did. and I've done
| everything in my power to get some
one interested. They forget all about
their property until rent day comes
| around
| He looked around Plaster and pa
per were falling from the walls, papers
| and old rags were stuffed into broken
windows and as Peggy said, it ralned
almost as hard inside as it did out
| The baby crept over and pulled It
! self up to his knee. He lifted 1t to ms
lap and opened a sticky little hand
/ Digging down in his pocket he pro
| duced a bill. Here, little chap. This
| might help generally. Give it to the
| lady"
you mustn't do that!' cried Peggy
when she had extricated the donaton
and noted the amount.
"Oh. yes I must! It's to get a
nurse to relieve you and some proper
I food and all the rest of that Sa mari
tan stuff And I'm going to see about
| fixing up this death trap. l stand In
a ~
| pany, you see. Now I must be going
| Good nighti'' he said, rising.
! Good night" said Peggy, holding
out her hand "And thank you, oh,
so very, very much
Good night he said, again forget
ting to let go her hand.
| Good night" said Peggy with fin
atty that could not be disputed And
he turned toward the stairs, feeling
| that he had left something very val
liable behind.
The next day Peggy looked up from
| her desk One of the stenographers
was talking.
| Did you know the boss was back?"
| "Who?"
"Oh, I forgot you didn't know him
Why, Mr.. Everett. He's been to
Japan. Came home yesterday. There
he is now"
The door of an adjoining office
opened and a man came out. Peggy
started. 1t was her Samaritan. Then
she understood Paradise Flats be-
| longed to him.
IT would like to see you moment
| please he said, recovering instantly
from his surprise.
| Peggy went in.
I've ordered that building to be
put into tip-top shape-rent free for
six months. I've been away. After
| this I'll look after things myself. Did
you get nurse for that woman"
Yes"
And have you a little time to spare
me now? I'm dreadfully lonely
and I've taken a notion that you are
the only company I want"
II think So" she answered, flush
| ing a beautiful pink that caused the
| young mans heart to pounds alarm
| ingly.-( Copyright, 1917, by the Nc
! Clure Newspaper Syndicate.)