The Meeker herald., 1919-08-02
in 4-D
~
By MAuNA cowLRs

Tenant in apartment Four D.
Marbridge court" whispered voclfer-
GUS Nathan, the young man who
worked the switchboard at Curtis 4
Carter's real estate Offices. The young
man listened to the voice on the tele-
phone, then turning to the young Mr..
Carter, lie said: "She wants to talk
to one of the firm. Kind O. mad.
should say. Want to talk to her. Mr..
Carter7"
"what's she llke?" queried the
youngest member Of the firm.
sounds like cranky old school
ma'am. She's awful mad"
"Oh, well, l might as well tnlk to
her. I'll kid her little. and maybe
that will keep her quiet" and still
turning over the papers on his desk.
with his right hand. Mr.. Carter reach
ed out with his left hhnd to take the
receiver on Its hook on his desk phone
while the operator connected him with
the tenant in apartment Four d.
$50 you're pretty cold. Well. now
I didn't catch the name-AIiss Crosby
Il certainly am sorry. But you'll
have to see Mr.. Hoover about that.
Now. you don't think we're keeping
that apartment cold Just to make you
mad. No. honest, there isn't my way
We can get more coal. Whnt-the
thcaters get conl enough. Well. that's
a good one. All you can do. then. Is
to go to a show. It's matinee day.
Now, really, / didn't mean to make YOU
angry. But you see, everyone is kick
ing, and 1t really isn't our fault. We
can't get any more coal and nll We can
do Is to try and keep cheerful about 1t.
WHAT You bet that 1t isn't so cold
here In our office as 1t Is In your
apartment Well. now. Miss Crosby,
TIL have to admit thnt 1t IL pretty
comfortable here. We've got u south
ern exposure and we're on the ground
floor. and somehow these Office build
Ing people do manage to get the coal.
Yes. 1t Is unfair. What7 Why, GER
tainly. I'd be glad to see you. Come
right nlong. Yes. Just ask for Mr..
Carter. Jr.. Frank Carter. Good-by.
Miss Crosby. I'll see you soon."" He
hung the receiver back on the hook
md then clapped his hand over the
ear with which he had been listening
ms II to relieve 1t from the effect OF
the volley fire that had been charged
on 1t through the phone.
"Wow," he said, addressing the tel
ephone operator on the opposite side
Of the room. beyond the little wooden
fence. "wow. but she certainly is
some sour old maid. thought I'd kid
her into good humor. but 1t was the
wrong tack. wonder II she'll call my
blum and come down and see how
warm we are. But say. Nathan. try
to get the coal commissioner on the
wire again. It's shame to run the
fires no low. Ask them II they can't
let me speak to him personally. It
seems MS IL something ought to be
DONE"
A hnlf-hour later young Carter
heard very low but unmIstaknble
whistle. It was Nnthnn's way Of In
dicnting that something worth observ-
ing was occurring In the office. There
WINS note of admiration N the whls-
tle-distInctly 1t was his way Of sig
milling to the other boys in the office
and Mr. Carter. who was still young
enough to be Interested in such sig
nal even though he was q member of
the frm-the proximity Of q pretty
girl.
Carter looked up from his paper.
caught the direction Of Nathan's guze
md then whIstled an answering
whistle. very low. but still audible to
Nathan. 1t WINS pretty girl and she
was approaching In the vicinity Of Ma.
than. Envelopcd In n voluminous fur
trimmed rough wooden cont OF Il dark
violet hue, with her hands encnsed In
q black mum to match the fur on her
coat. with u picturesque black velvet
hat. cut on the poke bonnet order. that
cas-. much shadow on her face. there
was still enough opportunity to see
that the girl beneath 10 much warmth
giving clothes was young. animated
and pretty.
The bewildercd Nathan looked up as
she approached and to her query that
Carter did not hear, he nodded to the
desk Of the youngest member OF the
firm. Then the violet coat and the
delicate aroma OF violet sachet that
went with It moved toward the little
wooden fence that hcdged in Mr.. Cur
ter's desk.
"Herc am" said the girl. 'Tm the
tenant In Four D., Mnrbridge court.
Where do you want me to sit-InsIdc
the fence or outsider
Carter jumped from his seat and
was 80 confused TINT all he could say
was: ''Inslde the fence-plcnse take
this chair. any chair. nny chair. Yes,
Iodood Yn,-arn artua11v lfIaa NroR.