The Washington times., 1938-02-15

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sterdam Ave. toward Columbus
Through a cubicle en- a n C {
flanked by rows of letter boxe:
they let themselves into stuffy
narrow hall and opened the dool
upon four small rooms.
GREETED BY BENNY
The one next the bath was sub
let. They found it dark and still
and went on to the kitchen. A pull
of the light chain brought bright
ness and the sight of Benjy, sit
ting on his hind legs, front paws
raised and bent, his eyes pleading
hungrily.
His mistress gave him a dog
biscuit, put the milk bottle on the
dumb waiter and showed him with
her foot into the room beyond
where she hurriedly locked the
door.
It was Friday night, pay night
for the lodger, the night when ne
invariably came in late and made
frightening noises. Fragments Of
song, great splaShings in the bath
room, the clink of glasses, would
keep little Miss Pollard listening
until at last she heard reassuring
SnoreS.
But there never was a Saturday
morning when a knock failed to
come on her door and a large
freckled hand extended bills in
payment for seven days tenancy.
He was a big, red-haired young
man named Muldoon, who had an
Swered her advertisement of "Sin.
gle room to let, 81. Gentleman" j"
She had almost inserted dog-lover
in the ad, but it would have made
another line and increased costs.
Surprisingly, Mr.. Muldoon turned
out to be dog person after all
and Benny adored him. There had
come to be sort Of as-one-man-
.to-another intimacy between them.
A DRINKING MAN
To discover that the lodger
drank was a terrible blow. Moth
ing had ever made her realize
the spot she was in so keenly as
the necessity of harboring a drink
ing man beneath her roof. She
could not even risk the small loss
of letting the room go idle dur
ing a period of rerental.
Lying quivering beneath the
quilts of Friday nights, her scanty
locks rolled tightly in metal curl.
ers, her striped outing flannel
nightgown close about her neck
and wrists, she would rehearse
what she would say and do if she
should suddenly become affluent.
II have never, Mr.. Muldoon, +"
she dramatized the moment, "I
have never, Mr.. Muldoon, tolerated
a man in my presence who was
under the influence of intoxicat-
ing liquors. I am sorry, but, I"
firmly, II must ask you to leave" I"
Then sickening comprehension
that. without Mr.. Muldoon's
weekly aid, she would have to give
up her apartment settled upon
her. In those four rooms she
had gathered her few household
goods. Every treasured possession
seemed to cast down roots and
throw out tendrilS to hold her
fast.
LOST HER JOB
For years Miss Pollard had been
a bookkeeper for Harrison & Co.,
In East Broadway. Then she lost
her job. Agencies, personal con-
facts, advertisements in papers
all failed her. Her savings evap-
grated. Lately she had secured a
Saturday job on a little set of
books in 125th Street. This tiny
stipend, with the little bit of
interest on long-ago investment,
plus Mr.. Muldoon's rent, kept her
sheltered and fed and bought
Benjy's raw beef and cooked lamb,
with a weekly box of dog biscuit
as a treat.
She had worked in figures all
her life-everything about her liv.
ing expenses was calculated to
the last cent. Without that So a
week, she would have to give uu
and go into a furnished room her.
self.
On nights other than Friday
Mr.. Muldoon would drop in fol
friendly greetings.
"How'S the landlady tonight?'
he would ask. And the pooch?'
Benjy's tail would wag costa
ticly.
How are you feller? Ever try
putting piece of candy on his
nose and let him snap for it?'
One night with an engaging grir
he asked Miss Pollard to go to {
picture show. Remembering tn,
times she had lain in bed listen
ing to maudlin movements, sht
srefused.
s BRINGS FLOWERS
True to form this Friday eve
ming Mr.. Muldoon came in noisily
What was worse he knocked o.
her door.
Brought you some flowers" h
said. Lots of flowers-all I coul
get"
Even through the oak barricad
b she could smell a sort of who'll
sale fragrance.
"Thump, thunnp, thump." 0
the door.