The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-02-06
As Cold as a
Barn
By RUTH JONES

When Fred Twells came home frol
his lecturing at college at four thf
afternoon he had made up his mind t
make an excursion into the lower RI
gions of his apartment house and see
out the janitor. Something simpl
the lack of heat In his apartment. III
heard the husky voice Of that digni
tary In the back of the entrance hail.
'Ye can see the agent If you like
MISS" that familiar voice was saying
"but 1t won't do no good The Goa
shortage lets him out and so long al
we are on short rations we can't make
1t no warmer"
But the point is" persisted the
little lady who was talking to the JAM
tor, that sometimes my apartment Is
as warm as toast-and then again 1t Is
uncomfortable. You see it isn't just my
own comfort Pm thinking about
make my living tutoring, and If my
students find my rooms unendurably
cold they simply won't come"
well, / dunno, | Dunno" was the
janitor's response. Fact is that there
isn't enough steam for All and 4J.
When Al has his steam turned on,
then you don't get any, see? If you've
got your steam on first then All has to
go cold. Maybe you could fix it up
with All. I'm not supposed to be tell
ing you this, you understand"
Fred Twells had found excuse TO
linger in the hall. At mention of Al
For he was All. Doubtless what the
janitor was saying offered an expla-
nation for his own difficulties as well
as those of this very charming young
woman who apparently made her liv-
ing at tutoring.
Cant you arrange with 4H?" asked
the girl "You see l am in with my
students usually all the morning and
most of the afternoon, but | am at
tending night school at the university
every evening, so I.Sdon't mind about
the heat then" The girl took dollar
from her thin little purse and held it
out to sthe janitor. perhaps you
would do. this for me?" she said.
The janitor took the proffered tip,
beamed and pocketed it. Thanks"
he said. "I'd like to take the matter
up with All, but you'd have better luck
yourself. You see, that All is a pro
fessor at the college. He is none too
obliging-kind of fussy old bachelor,
my wife says, though he's not so old,
either"
Fred Twells entered the elevator
and signaled the boy to take him up, |
but the elevator operator, seeing Miss |
Lands, the young tutor, waited for
her.
"Would you tell me the name of
the person in ALP" she asked the ele-
vator boy? rs he so very, very cross
and horrid?"
The boy in question grinned and
looked namely toward Mr.. Twells.
We'll, I shouldn't say as how he is"
,huckled the boy. "This is him.
before you. Mr.. Twells,
naam, lives in A."
Mr.. Twells and Miss Lands alighted
It their floor and walked toward II
md ]. Miss Lands briefly and with
iome embarrassment told Mr.. Twells
# her difficulty in getting heat.
81 was going to suggest" she be-
IAN, and then, feeling the awkward
less of keeping Mr.. Twells standing
n the draughty hall, she started out
fresh: perhaps you would come in.
you are not awfully busy, and we
ould talk about this dreadful heat
proposition more comfortably"
SO Mr.. Twells was ushered into
Hiss Landis' living room. a not richly
ut very pleasantly furnished little
anctum. 1t happened to be com
ortably warm.
Nov 1t happens to be warm" the
irl said, offering her caller chair
That is because you haven't turned
our heat on. But sometimes you leave |
on all day and then | don't have a
nudge of 1t. Now what | was going
, be bold enough TO suggest was this:
m home all day with my pupils. At
our | usually go out walking or on !
)me errand or other and I'm at eve [
ing classes almost every evening. / {
nagine you are away all day-home l
list when | am away. Now was r
ping to say that maybe when you 60 t
way you'd turn your steam off-that a
ould send IL over here; and as soon q
, l am through Til turn mine off and
lat will send it to you. Does that u
rike you as q good plan?" a
Mr.. Twells hadn't been paying very d
,od heed to the plan. He was so r
UGH more interested in watching the p
,eaker and noticing her little man a
erisms and changes of expression +
ian in needing exactly what she said. q
ill, after five minutes discussion of Il
e matter. he grasred the situation &
I'd declared the plan admirable.
Imagine calling this old barn Yer a
lilies" exclaimed Miss Lands. see o
G that, though they had finished u
liking about heat, her caller fingered. W
That name suggests regal comforts. c
I'd all sorts of luxuries-the only o
ing regal about 1t Is the attitude of Il