Evening star., 1925-07-05

Gracious. nop' said the landlord
Easiest thing on earth. Say, I wish
all my tenants had your ideas, Mr.
Chalmers"
"Chalders," the other corrected.
Excuse me. l amt good on names
What else was 1t you wanted jammed
up? Oh, yes-the furnace. Can't do
much with that except stuff up the
smoke pipe. But thatll help. How
about the stove. Mr.. Chalmers? Want
that fixed up, too?"
mot on your life, man! Leave the
kitchen range alone. Remember,
may be able to stand freezing to death
but there's one think 1 insist on-I in
tend to eat"
RY the end of the week a half-dozen
O vans and delivery wagons had
backed up to the square brown house
One by one Priscilla had welcomed
them. But when the last man had
clumped his way over the threshold
Priscilla was no longer in a welcom-
ing mood.
From floor to ceiling every room
was stacked with an assortment of
furniture.
She was hopping her eyes when
Charlie Hale rang the doorbell. He
said: We'll dear, how's the old place
getting along?" He whipped off his
coat, seized hold of the largest piece
and asked where 1t went.
II need a hammer" he observed
! presently, and raced out to get it, On
his return he stopped just inside the
doorway and whistled in sudden ap-
probation. Then he strode into the
kitchen, where he heard noises
You little peach"' he commented
why, you've got the front room all
Strengthened up. 1t looks halfway
human. How on earth did you ever
do it?"
Priscilla faced him. laughing. I'm
darned if l know" she said i've
just-hustled that's all / intend to
cook dinner here tonight-some sort
of dinner-if it's my last living act.
Look upstairs, Charlie-the bedrooms
are halfway fixed, too. There's only
| one satisfaction l can get today-and
| that's to spoil the laugh 1 know dads
counting on. Listen-tf9re's his key
in the door"
Silas Chalders came in asking If he
could help.
Take off your coat" said Charlie
Hale. 'and then unpack this barrel of
kitchen stuff. You ought to have
seen this place two hours ago"
II could picture it." muttered Mr..
Chalders. That's why I delayed my
arrival"
Said Priscilla, wiping her hands
upon grimy apron: Come across
with your board money, dad. You
start eating here tonight"
Now scrambled eggs and bacon,
with toast and coffee, are fairly simple
| to prepare. Priscilla, who had
learned the trick at camp, scrambled
eight eggs, fried a painful of bacon,
made a batch of toast and a big pot
of coffee.
Tomorrow I intend TO begin dig
ging into a cook book" the girl an
| nounced proudly. "Why, cooking is
cinchr' Presently she sr-iled and
said, Now, dad, let's tackle your
bette noir. Here's where 1 wash the
dishes. Just watch me-"
She ran into the kitchen and turned
on the hot water. After a moment
she put her hand under the tap.
1T ought to be hot" she said.
isn't it?" her father inquired
blandly.
mo, it's not. It's as cold as ice. -
| She faced the two men helplessly.
Come here and see what's the mat
ter with it, Charlie" she entreated
He went, traced the pipes from the
faucet to the boiler, from the boiler
to the range, traced them back again.
Don't know" he said finally. 'I
/ guess Wen have TO get a plumber.
But we can't get plumber till
tomorrow. How are we going to
wash the dishes in ice-cold water?''
Priscilla turned sharply at a muffied
chuckle from her father. Wen
wash 'em just the same" she said
| determinedly. And for the better
part of a clammy hour she and
| Charlie did.
THE landlord will send a plumber I"
said Mr.. Chalders. It's his business,
you know, to keep the place in rea-
sonable repair. Just telephone him
| in the morning"
'I certainly WILL" said Priscilla with
dignity. They walked out to the liv-
ing room and she sat down. rs the
furnace going all right" she asked
| There's no heat coming up" she
insisted
| CHARLIE HALE without a word
- stalked to the cellar. They
heard him cough, heard him make
one loud remark that was not fatter-
| ing to the furnace. Then he came
stumbling up the wooden stairs.
It's out" he informed them, rub
bing his eyes. "Or I guess it's out.
I couldn't see on account of the
| smoke Say-we're getting our share
of troubles, all right. What's the
matter with this house, anyway"
Said Silas Chalders. smiling: IT'S
no different from any other house.
Charlie. Housekeeping, as 1 think 1
told you, is no bed of roses.''
Let's all turn in," the girl sug-
gested at this point. I'm going to,
anyhow. 1 don't mind saying that /
could go to sleep standing up to-
| night"
AN amiable idea" said her father.
You run up first, daughter, and
well follow"
| Priscilla ran up. They could hear
! her setting the bedrooms in order.
Then, abruptly, they heard her call
| out-a cry of fright and sudden alarm.
| The two men bolted up the stairs,
| found the girl at the bathroom wash
basin vainly stuffing a towel into what
! looked like the mouth of a small
| geyser.
! 1T came off," she shouted. "The
| whole faucet came off,"
/ 'Heret' commanded Charlie Hale.
You're getting all wet. Let me get
/ at that. Oh, yes-heres the faucet" !"
! He stopped to the floor and rescued it..
! Now let me see If l can't screw 1t
| back on"
In a spray of water he pushed and
| twisted, fought with the faucet and
| tried to hold it in place against the
/ pressure. He did not give up until
he and Priscilla and the entire room
were drenched. Then he shook the
water from his eyes, fumbled for the
soggy towel, ordered Priscilla to hold
1t over the pipe by main strength,
and rushed down into the cellar.
After 15 minutes he came slowly up
stairs again, his face and clothing
smeared with wet, black CRIME.
| "All right now" he announced dis