The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-10-05
Williams and Horse
Thieves Z
ny FREDERICK CLARKE.


Il won't argue with you." rcturne
Ethel Kllhger.
dllda was reading a letter the DOS
man had just left. Ethel was deep /
q musical magaxiue.
They're hogs I" added Hilda, as sh
read On.
THAT statement will never start
quarrea between you and me-" OF
served Ethel, turning page Of tn
magazine. I
They're horse thieves and murde,
ers" raved Hilda. mo owner Of d
apartment house will e,er get t
heaven"
Judge not tnat We be not judged.
warned Ethel.
"Look here, Ethel! |" shrllled Tilda
rising from her chair and stamp.n,
q foot. III you knew what this lette
meant you would not be SO indifrer
ent."
Ethel laid aside the magazine ant
looked up. smiling. She was the smil
ing kind. ~ =
swell, what does 1t mean?" she in
Quired sweetly.
1T means just this" said Hllda
savagely. '''rhls is a letter from old
Smtthers, ana 1t announces $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 sadJ tenants must send young
men callers home at half past eight.
Ethel forgot to smile. Her eyes
blazed.
I've lost my indifference" she said.
Il sane ton all you have said. Old
Smlthers goes to bed every night at
eight o'clock, and that's why he orders
music stopped at that hour. He's an
old crouch that never had q girl look
1t him without scowling, so he makes
VA Dust our men friends at the hour
when they usually arrive. mean your
men friends, Hilda, because l never
nave any. ! have to 60 into the bed.
room every other night so you may
entertain In the living room. Just the
same, might have beau some night,
Co. you see. this latest edict affects
me. You know, too, that love music.
and that I don't get home from work
until half past seven. We might as
well sell the monograph. And the
rent-of course. that's the worst blow
OF all. 1t makes hundred per cent
raise In the last year. Yes, Hilda, I've
lost my Indifference. But what can
We doT"There's no place to move"
Hilda dropped into a chair.
Guess wen have to grin and bear
IT," she mourned. "We'll 60 without
those new dresses to meet the raise.
and we'll resign ourselves to single
Slessedness the rest Of our lives"
Just 30 old Smithers can enjoy the
comforts Of his grouchy bachelorhood,"
added Ethel. TITS unfortunate that he
lives right under us; otherwise we
might forget some Of the orders now
and then. I wonder how he gets away
with these things? He doesn't own
the building. does her"
no; at least. I understand that he
doesn't. But that makes no differ.
ence. The owners are worse than their
agents. Well, 1t simply means more
economy for US. 80 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 a photograph shop
with a display Of records in the win
dow. They were all grand opera seiec-
Hons 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 Ave
eecords.
From the trolley car she transferred
to the subway and got into crowded
car. 1t he'd scarcely started from the
station before It came to a sudden
stop and the cry Of fire" went up.
IN some manner the doors became
thrown open. and the panic-stricken
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 firm grasp
and she was jerked backward. A tall
young man. with twinkling eyes. was
holding her.
Just In nme!" he exclaimed. "Do
you know. young lady. you were lust
about to step on the third rail? The
rest of the crowd thought about II
panic-stricken though they were, and
Kept clear. Don't you know 1t would
have meant instant death?"
Ethel turned pale.
Thank-thank YOU" she stammerea
FOR saving my life."
"Oh. it's all right" assured the vouno
man. II think I had better take
charge Of You, though. Let me take
that bundle - phonograph records
aren't theyT
"Yes." sho breathed, relinauisbinp !
the burden.
He escorted her safely back to the