Capital Journal

THE RENT WAS NOT RAISED.

Woman Showed Herself Too Smart For Her Landlord.

They met in a street car, and the woman with a golf cape remarked:

"I see you still have the same house."

"Yes, and at the same rent," remarked the woman with the ostrich boa.

"But I thought your landlord had decided to raise it?"

"He did, but somehow I didn't expect to move, though Tom gave up the house at once. You see, I really can't afford to have any more bric-a-brac smashed in moving wagons. I've lost enough already to stock a department store."

"So you have decided not to move?"

"Not quite, dear. You see, I told the landlord that I was sorry to move, but we really couldn't afford a higher rent and that I myself would gladly show the house to intending tenants. Then I set every room in order and waited."

"Well."

"Well, I really thought that the first woman that came would take it. I praised the closets and told her what swell neighbors we had and"—

"But I thought you didn't want to"—

"No, dear, but just as she was leaving I casually mentioned the fact that two persons had died of typhoid fever in the next house above and one two doors below. She seemed somewhat agitated, and when I called out the landlord's address after her she didn't seem much interested."

"But, Maggie, you know that was"—

"Some time ago? Yes, but I never could remember dates, and the people did die."

"Well, did she"—

"Never went near. The bedrooms were too small for the next people, and the next ones were delighted, but thought the rent rather dear. Then I remarked that immediately after luncheon I intended to run around and engage that lovely little house in the next square at a lower rent. They carelessly asked which house, and I noticed that they turned that corner."

"How could you? Well, did she"—

"Well, you know, it was cheaper and if they had taken our house I should have been obliged to rent that, for it was near enough to have my bric-a-brac carried."

"Your landlord told me that Swellstyles intended to take it."

"They did, but after Mrs. Swellstyles and I had gone over it I said, 'Your children all look so healthy that I think the house will just suit you, but mine, you know, are rather delicate, and the least hint of sewer gas alarms us.' She turned pale, and I knew at once that not even the parlor mantel would induce her to take it."

"And the landlord?"

"Oh, he came around that evening and said that as we were such good tenants he had decided not to raise the rent. Tom was so surprised."

"No wonder," gasped her friend.

"This is our stopping place. Come and have a cream soda. I feel faint."—Chicago Tribune.