The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-06-10
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Furnished Apartment
To Let
sy FREDERICK HART.
~ ARLlsLE HENDERSON read
the advertisement again. 1t

seemed worth while invest
saling, even though he had follow
cd up. many promising trails only
70 find that they ended IN dIsap.
nelntment. sui. this was what he
Eahted-l[ only II was Ike what il
said It was:
4sth ST., "A West-Complete.
~ furnished apartment; three
.roomg, bath, kitchen elevator,
telephone. All ConyenIences.
400. Sublet till October.
He clipped the scrap of papeY
from the journal In which he had
tpiind II, put It carefully III his wal
let and started ont on the trail
once more. For two weeks he had
sought a place 10 live. and had
found the var uus Gl.u:ing adver
tisements AnasG, anu decisions
Either they Nete not what he want.
90, or else thyy cii.tg.d enormous
pftces for r.O%iGiiOusly inadequate
rooms Ile had net much hope: but
an inner urge prompted him 10 fol
low this lead. II might be the
thlng-and the price was certain
~ low enough! Most OF them want,
Sod Nearly double that sum for an
hf1furnished barn OF Il place. +" " .
The bus carried him IN the ave-
nue. to tho cross street he sought:
he rang the bell and as the IN,
wieldly vehicle slowed he swung
IexpeEtly from the step. a short
Walk ives ward brought him to the
humber.
From the outside the place look.
ea bright aud clean. Big windows,
he noted ap~proyingly; the apart,
ments on the lower floors, which
We're occupied, showed giimpseS OF
lastefllly furnished rooms--not the
green plush'aud.goldcn.ouE horrors
among which he had lived Tor SO
many weeks. lie mounted the steps
and raug the bell.
a trim maid answered the ring.
He produced the clipping.
Two flights up" she said. Just
kneek-apartment "a.
He climbed the stairs. They were
wide, leep.carpcteG, quiet. The
Whole house brcatheL au air OF re-.
finement. And there was II three
room apartment here for rent at
300 month";. Ills mind instlnc-
lively took up suspicious. There
must be something wrong with the
place. at that price. Perhaps there
were conditions attached-certulM,
1t couldn't be very nice : .
stll, he had come a l0ng way. aud
There was no use backing ont now
he might as well see Il. Another
kght OF stairs, and he vas stand,
before apartment q.
There was no card In the little
der, but u cleaning brass knock.
INVITED use. He raped tenta-
IIely. Footsteps sounded on the
cr side OF the door. and In Il mo
int the handle turned aud he was
Lde a cheerful come nj"
The light of tho room after the
|dimness OF the hallway JaIzlcd his
|leyes for a moment. and he could
not mako out the features of the
girl who confronted him. He noted
that she was small und slim. and
dressed In a husinesslike suit OF
dark material; then his eyes ruved
about the beautiful little apartment
with Its wicker furniture. It's com.
Portable looking couch. the shaded
electric lights. 1t was what BIZ
wanted, all right " . q his eyes re,
turned to the girl aud he saw tina;
she was standing with her back
against the wall. one hand clench :
led at her side, the otaer at her
throat He saw that her face was
white-aud then he saw that he
knew her.
! %Alicei" 1t was a mere whisper.
lTheI shock Of surprise nearly stun,
bned him. "Alice-you-how did
yoi get here?"
Carlisle, II" The words came
with difficulty. 81 came last year.
live been palnting-not very
we'll. I'm afraid" with a little
nervous laugh. "At least no one
wantsgto buy my pictures l had q
lille money, but It's nearly all gone,
30 I had to sublet this place. Did
you see my advertisement In the
paper?"i
sYes, ] saw n-but-Alice-I-do
YOU remember when l last saw
Your
She looked away.
Yes, III remember," abe said at
We'll, I want to say-why didn't
you answer my ~Ietters?"
aI-1 don't know. was hurt,
Carlisle, hurt and proud. Oh. I was
wicked not to write! know It now
And then you stopped writing, and
couldn't stand It any longer. And
j came here to work-and to for.
got, And now you come here!"
"Aliee-Alice. dear, ] want 10 ask
your pardon for tho things | said
I'd did that night"
With a little cry she flung herself
his arms.
soh. Carlisle. Carlisle. It's I who
should ask pardon. ] was wrong
hopelessly, bitterly wrong-and !
see Il now. ] saw It months ago
but ! couldn't bring myself tc
write. And then you changed youi
address, and l couldn't find YOU
again. And I was so miserable
Carlisle. dear. wont you kiss me
and say that it's all right?"
alice. 1t never was anything but
all right. I've found you now ant
don't intend 10 let you go. Let's
let bygones be bygones. and mol
think any more OF that had ole
lime. You're mine now, and you'll
never get away again."
There was silence for a moment