The Colorado statesman., 1921-09-17
Williams and Horse
Thieves
By FREDERICK CLARKE.

81 won't argue with you" returned
Ethel Kllnger.
Hlldu was reading a letter the post
a musical magazine.
They're hogs !" added Hilda, as she
read on.
"rhat statement will never start IL
quarrel between you and me-" OBJ
served Ethel. turning page Of the
magazine.
"They're horse thieves and murder
ers" raved Hllda. mo owner of an
apartment house will ever get to
heaven"
Judge not that ye be not judged"
warned Ethel.
"Look here, Ethelw shrilled Hilda,
rising from her chair and stamping
Il foot IF you knew what this letter
meant you would not be so indlffer-
ent"
Ethel laid aside the magazine and
looked up, smiling. She was the smll-
ing kind.
"well. what does 1t mean?" she In.
qulred sweetly.
''It means Just this" said Hilda
savagely "Ths is letter from old
Smithers. and 1t announces a $50 raise
IN rent. 1t also tells us that no phono-
graph may be played in this building
after eight o'clock at night and that
young lady tenants must send young
men callers home at half past eight.
Ethel forgot to smile. Her eyes
blaZed.
1--WE lost my Indifference" she said.
81 sanction all you have said. Old
Smlthers goes to bed every night at
eight o'clock, and that's why he orderss
music stopped at that hour. He's an
old crouch that never had n girl look
at him without scowling, so he makes
US GUST our men friends at the hour
when they usually arrive. l mean your
men friends, Hllda. because l never
have any. I have to go into the bed
room every other night so you may
entertain In the living room. Just the
same. | might have beau some night,
so, you see, this latest edlct affects
me. You know, too, that love music,
and that | don't get home from work
well sell the phonograph. And the
rent-of course, that's the worst blow
of all. 1t makes a hundred per cent
raise in the last year. Yes. Hilda, I've
lost my Indifference. But what can
we do? There's no place to move"
IIllda dropped into chair.
Guess we'll have TO grin and bear
IT," she mourned ''We1l so without
those new dresses to meet the raise,
and we'll resign ourselves to single
biessedness the rest of our lives"
Just so old Smithers can enjoy the
comforts Of his grouchy bachelorhood."
added Ethel. ITS unfortunate that lie
lives right under us; otherwise we
might forget some of the orders now
and then. l wonder how he gets away
with these things? He doesn't own
the building, does hep"
NO; at least, / understand that he
doesn't. But that makes no differ
ence. The owners are worse than their
agents. Well. it simply means more
economy for us, so the owner can have
more luxury"
Ethel agreed, but the very next day
she fell from grace. On her way to
the car line from the office where she
worked she passed phonograph shop
with display of records in the win
dow. They were all grand opera selec-
tions and were offered at bargain. She
could not resist the present temptation
and she spent five hard-earned dollars
In the shop, and carried away five
records. t
From the trolley car she transferred
to the subway and got into crowded
car 1t had scarcely started from the
station before 1t came to a sudden
stop and the cry of "fire" went up
In some manner the doors became
crowd surged out.
Ethel felt that she would be crushed
to death. for she was short and those
about her were tall. Once out of the
car. however. she detached herself
from the crowd and started running
along the track. holding the precious
records high In one hand to prevent
their destruction.
Her arm was caught in a firm grasp
and she was Jerked backward. A tall
young man. with twlnkling eyes, was
holding her.
Just In timel" he exclaimed. ado
you know, young lady. you were Just
about to step on the third rail? The
rest of the crowd thought about it.
panic-strlcken though they were, and
kept clear. Don't you know 1t would
have meant instant death?"
Ethel turned pale.
"Thank-thank you" she stammered,
''for saving my life"
"Oh. it's all right" assured the young
man. 81 think / had better take
charge OF you, though. Let me take
that bundle = phonograph records,
aren't they"