The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-10-27
Williams and Horse
Thieves
By FREDERICK CLARKE.

Hllda was reading letter the post
man had just left. Ethel was deep In
a musical magazine. tfff
They're hogsl" added Hllda, as she
read on. stfl
THAT statement will never start
quarrel between you and me-" OBJ
served Ethel. turning page OF the
magazine.
They're horse thieves and murder
ersr' 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
foot. III you knew what this letter
meant you would not be so indiffer-
ent"
Ethel laid aside the magazine and
looked up, smiling. She was the smll-
Ing kind.
"well, what does 1t meanY" she In.
quired sweetly.
ut means just this" said Hllda
savagely. This Is a letter from old
Smithers, and II announces a $40 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.
'Ive lost my indifference" she said.
II sanction all you have said. Old
Smithers 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 girl look
at him without scowllng, so he makes
us oust our men friends at the hour
when they usually arrive. mean your
men friends, Hilda. because l never
have any. 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 edict affects
me. You know, too. that love music,
and that don't get home from work
until half past seven. We might as
well sell the photograph. 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 do7 There's no place to move"
Hilda dropped Into chair.
Guess we'll have to grin and bear
H." she mourned. "We'll go without
those new dresses to meet the raise,
and Wen resign ourselves to single
blessedness the rest OF our lives"
"Just so old Smithers can enjoy the
comforts OF hIs grouchy ,bacheiorhood. |"
added Ethel. ''It's unfortunate that lie
lives right under us; otherwise we
might forget some Of the orders now
and then. | wonder how he gets away
with these thlngs7 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.
From the trolley car she transferred
to the subway and got into crowded
car. II had scarcely started from the
station before It came to sudden
stop and the cry Of "fire" went up
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 proven,
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 timer he exclaimed. "Dc
you know, young lady, you were jusi
about to step on the third rail7 The
rest OF the crowd thought about II
panic-strlcken though they were, and
kept clear. Don't you know II 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. "I think I had better take
charge Of you. though. Let me take
that bundle - phonograph records
aren't theyT
Eyes" she breathed, rellnquishins
the burden.