Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-30
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
ViIfains and Horse There's

ct ANDLORDs are villains!" an
~ nounced Hilds Crandell with con-
viction.
~ wont argue With you," returned
Ethel Klinger.
Hilda was reading n letter the post
man had just left. Ethel was deer In
a musical magazine.
They're hogs! - added Hilda. az she
read on.
THAT statement will never start a
quarrel between you and me-" observed
Ethel. turning a page Of the magazine.
They're horse thieves and murder
ers - raved Hilda. "No owner of an
apartment house will ever get to
heaven.
Judge not that ye be not Judged, "
warned Ethel.
Look here. Ethel!'' shrilled IIilda,
rising from her chair and stamping
foot. '1f you knew what this letter
meant you would not be SO indifferent.
Ethel laid aside the magazine and
looked up, smiling. She was the smil-
well, what does 1t mean p she in.
quired sweetly.
',It means just this" said Hilda say.
ngely. This is letter from old
Smithers. and Il announces n $50 raise
In rent. 1t also tells us that no phono-
graphs may be played in this building
after O'Clock at night. and that young
lady tenants must send young men
callers home at half-paat s."
Ethel forgot to smile. Her eyes
blased.
GIVE lost my Indifference - she said.
II sanction all you have said. Old
Smithers goes to bed every night at 8
o'clock: and that's why he orders music
gfOIlnp1 a nj
crouch that never had girl look at
him without scowling. no he makes
us oust our men friends ut the hour
when they usually arrive. I mean your
men friends. Hilda. because never
have any. I have to 60 into the bed
room every other night No you may en-
terthin In the living room. Just the
same. / might have n beau some night.
so, you see, this latest edict affects me.
You know. too, that I love music. and
tthnt l don { get home from work until
the phonograph. And the rent-of
course. that's the worst blow of all.
1t makes 100 per cent rnise In the
last year. Yes. Hilda. I've lost my in
difference. But what can we do?
There's no place to move"
IIilda dropped into chair. \
Guess we'll 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
blessedness the rest Of our lives"
Just so old Smithers can enjoy the
comforts of his grouchy bachelorhood,
lives right under us: otherwise we
might forget some OF his orders now
and then. I wonder how he gets away
with these things? He doesn't own the
building, does he?"
NO; at least. I understand that he
doesn't. But that makes no difference.
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 a phonograph shop
with display Of records in the window.
They were oil grand opera selections.
and were offered at bargain. She
should not resist the present temptation
and she spent five hard earned dollars
in the shop, and carried away five rec
ords.
From the trolley car she transferred
to the subway and got into a crowded
car. 1t had scarcely started from the
station before 1t came to sudden stop
and the cry of fire" went up. In
some manner the doors became thrown
open. and the panic stricken crowd
surgcd 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