Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-17
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
Dozen the DumbIoaifer SHAFT
By FREDERICK HART
"OH, I think gas stoves are the

" meanest things!' ,
Tears stood in pretty Mary DAVIS
eyes. She had had little enough trou-
bic in her life in the Belladonna
Apartments. but the gas stove seemed
always TO be a thing endowed with
malignant. devilish spirit that defed
her. try as she would to regulate it.
supper ready to prepare, the thing
wouldn't work. 1t either refused to
light at all or exploded with a vicious
bang that frightened Mary nearly to
death. She stamped her foot.
II hope you blow up andmand I%
addressing the inanimate cause of her
troubles. She knew that it was no
good appealing to the janitor-that
worthy lurked low in den where
only the boldest tenant dared tread,
and Mary had no desire to meet him
in argument. She wiped her eyes.
"If I only knew something about
stoves" she walled aloud. but I
don't, and can't cook my supper,
and-and--''
She sank on the bed and gave her
self to tears.
A knock on her door startled her.
She sprang to her feet, hastily dabbed
| at her eyes, and opened the door. In
the hall stood young man. dithdent,
yet smiling.
II believe you have something
wrong with your gas stove he began.
"Oh, I have-indeed I have. Are
you d" She paused, not sure OF
the name for men who repaired gas
stoves. The young man took her up.
I'm not-that is to say. I'm not q
regular gas-stove expert he said.
But I've lived in apartments long
enough to know something about their
little habits and tricks, And | thought
I might fix yours: He had entered
as he spoke. and Mary looked at him
was handsome, she decided at once.
and he had nice eyes and an engaging
smile. And surely he had come as
opportunely as an angel from heaven.
There it is." she SAID. pointing out
the horrid object. Il cant do any
thing with it,"
The young man approached the
stove without a tremor. as one who
| has no fear. He twiddled its cocks
with contemptuous familiarity. trying
to light it once or twice. Then he
reached in his pocket. extracted a
pair of pliers and loosened a joint or
two. poking into pipes with a match
stick. At last he Strengthened him
sell.
II think it'll work all right now"
| he said Let Inc try it. Have you a
match?"
He turned the cock. struck the
match she had given him ana applied
the fire to the burner. A little pop :"
sounded. and the clear blue fame of Il
| perfectly funCtioning gas range re-
warded him. Mary gave little cry
of Joy; .,
Its all right now. isn't it? How can
entered her mind "Do how much
| is it--does it cost:'
The young man Strengthened his
back cramped and stopping.
"Well. there's no charge. But if
you have a bit of salt to spare you
might let me borrow a pinch" he re-
piled, II haven't a scrap of salt in
my place.
,"Of course I'll let you have the
salt" she said. hurrying to open a
paper bag "But wish you'd let m1
give YOU something for your trouble. "
1T wasn't any trouble. 1t was a
pleasure, replied the Young man, and
| bowed. And then he kept on bowinC
farther and farther till he tumbled to
the floor and lay still.
Mary kept her head; got water and
dabbed it on his forehead and laid
him in an easier position. And then
she saw what She had not noticed be-
| fore-that his face was pinched and
white and his cheeks were hollow.
At last he opened his eyes.
"I'm-I'm dreadfully sorry - he
stammered. II don't know what was
the matter with me-I just sort of
tainted, ! gueSs-lll go now"
You'll do nothing of the sort. Tell
me, how long is it since you've eaten -
Two days" confessed the young
man. Il have job that will pay me
we'll, but | don't go to work till tomor
row. and I've been living all this week
on loaf of bread. That's what !