Show Daily Short Fiction Story PROPERTY RIGHTS By MARTHA McCULLOCH WIL WIL- LIAMS Copyright 1914 1514 by the McClure Newspaper Newspaper News News- paper Syndicate Instruments of ot torture are aro many There There's the lack rack tho the thumbscrew the bed of oC the cell which shrinks and crushes the water drop water ever ever rop-ever ever so o oman man many cheerful devices fa for 1 punishing re re- re Rut Hut given tho right conJunction conJunction conjunction con con- junction of oC circumstances tho accordion able bodied able bodIed and handled can give all the others cards and spades yet win handily Brewis found Cound that out when ho lie went down to Straphanger for tor country countr quiet an and coolness by help of oC which ho meant to set down accurately tho the haunting and elusive harmonies of ot his dreams Ilo Ile was full tull of or happiness hope courage Ills Hilt chance had como come when ho he had almost l Impaired despaired A windfall in shape of or a 0 modest mod mod- modest est esl legacy to bo exact a a. bungalow at Straphanger er and a n. few hundred dollars enabled him to leave leavo office slavery and give rive himself unreservedly to the Joys of oC compo composition JO Joy general ran crescendo In him for a space of oC two days day It took Just so long Ion longto to fit himself and his modest belongings Into the pretty prett small house to drink his fill rill of or the wonderful airs alra blowing soft over 01 green reen fields and snuff ec ecstatically the tho scene of at clover and locusts In bloom His cousin the late lato owner woman of ot all work 8 spare pare silent competent made him altogether altogether comfortable For the first time since ho he left eft school he was waa wholly free Cree wholly at nt ease eale with money enough In to bank to last six months a a. home of ot othis his own and his fancies for Cor company not notto notto notto to name his one ono extravagance a 8 r really II fine piano Ear Early morning FO so enticed upon the third day he was avas late for Cor breakfast st though he had pledged himself to get down to hard work b by 8 Instead ho he had walked five thc miles and came In so de do- delI delightfully lI hungry he made a very hearty meal meat After it he ho smoked finding himself himself him him- self happily sluggish Letters reading answering letters filled In much more than half halt the thc morning mottling Then Just as aa he sat down to 10 tho the piano llano came callers He had noted with dismay In to one part parl of oC his earl early smart cottages with tennis courts flowery flowers even garages stables and poultry yards yards- The They were all reasonably remote remote half half a mile at the nearest But right acro across s from tram hl his hili own ru rustle rustic tle gate gale was a n. frame house violently painted red painted red roof yellow walls white while trim general and mr loud t a awning l Tt had been shut hut when he he came Now ow there were ere signs of ot life me at ol the tho back baek A fat tat woman stood upon the grass graas there thero hanging hang han lag ing clothes upon a ft Tina line Lurking In the tho piazza lattice ho lie had hd seen a n. loutish hort lad and a 01 girl much too big for tor her short skirts and pl pigtails The sight had not made ronde athi him ep excellent Indeed after an lunch luncheon con ho sat eat down caP eagerly to his work ork at peace with all the tho world Sitting o with shut eyes oyes he recalled a fantasy of oC the tho night struck the keys keY'S before him hesi beet beet- then firmly stopping after a few bars to to o write notes on tho the ruled paper fro fronting him nion he iad had trl tried over the notes a he n hummed faintly played pled again and again began writing down In tho midst of ot f it came camo a screechy wailing the the long drawn sound Hound of at an accordion with a a. triangle ac ac aa- aa compartment It U came th was the worst of ot It Just as os he had hod banIshed banished ban ban- shed it from Crom mind the tho e re- re After lt r half halt an nn hour he of ot source this a ho he rushed outside and located the source of ot trouble It was as ho had had thought the violently color colored d house hOUlle A family group sat Mt on the steps of of It the lad Ind holdIng the tho accordion his stout sister r Beating boating beating the tho triangle tho the woman evidently their mother molher In an attitude of ot ecstasy hands hand chess her stomach head thrown thrown folded upon back eyes oyes fast upon her darlings s. s and gloating As sew Brawls came In tn sight she she w said said Id to I Ithe r me meTho meThe meTho Do IM be the musicians m abates shutes Mw tho Tho The WE Arin o 0 the Green It Instrument a B. lot better than all an thim chunes classic Obediently they struck into the tho classic wandering ballad on from It through u snatches which had h hit the public hard for Cor at least a year ear back his work hands-work was Brewis flung sung up but Impossible family could not last forever Catching up hat and stick BUck he set out to explore again As II a result lie ho found himself around 5 o o'clock clock mortal pretty completely complete a hot and thirsty thirst ly lost He could not be very cry far tar from in anoa another t his own domain He Ne Heas was as region of ot tennis courts At the next of ot them lie he appealed dim dim- diffidently diffidently dently to toa a young fellow looking on at an exciting final explaining his hla plight and asking directions His name appeared appeared tobe to tobe tobo be bo an open tle sesame me Brewis We Yeve ve heard of ot you ou Come In and have hate iced tea with us the thc young tell fellow ow said hospitably hos hos- We are tho the Mortons friends friends of ot our your friends tho the Youn Youngs s. s And Peg Pel m ns my sister there Is le as aa datt daffy over oer music a as over tennis tennis only only difference Is Is she he can I handle a racket but knows only how to listen In the other game blessed her heartily for tor her Capacity capacity capacity ca ca- and Incapacity He lie ate ato and amI drank talked a a. little and listened a great deal At 18 last It he ho told of his hie predicament It predicament predicament-It It sent the into Inlo shouting laughter Mo Molly OBrien O'Brien I Is getting the desire of or when she could her heart Peg explained speak A A of ot the Clamps who own tho the house they they've ve made her caretaker caretaker care care- taker till Christmas falling tailing to rent the place She believes devoutly she has hM has mothered great reat genius In Denny an and torah Norah Yesterday she told us when she came to tier serve notice of ot quitting as laundress laundres that the had a Il hUen chan t to practice act far fer wId movin I suppose pose you suffer sutter the b beginning of at It Norah can surely surel dance dance for for all she's so BO heavy Wont Won't you let Jet us como come and watch rehearsals It will be almost as heavenly as ns having free tickets when hen they begin performing begged her hor to como come All AU All the tho indeed were made free o of ot his bungalow But what he suffered from front Ills ids artist neighbors pen cannot sa say ay As Assure sure cure as he got a special inspiration the accordion triangle duet struck up and put It to flight He was driven to working If IC he worked at all all either either VCr very very late or very very carl early Offers to divide practice with his neighbors oven cen backed with a a. substantial consideration were ero spurned Bo So the days ran past and he had almost nothing to show for tor them Right Righton on top lop of 01 that came an art offer to set sot him wild wild wild-of of much money and more renown Ithe If It he tie would quid supply suitable music to a libretto sud suddenly enl bereft of ot Its IlS Intended composer He could do It so It-so so well so 50 gladly gladly It If only ho he had peace about him But dared he promise lacking that peace Revolving Revolving Re Re- the thc momentous question he took his way a to the It had grown a 0 habit with him hint Peg Pel was as a fine comrade comrade- He lie had bad made her his court of oC last t resort no less of oC first firt When she knew his dilemma her face Cace lighted vividly You II fla say yes and yes and sir Ir she ebe pronounced eagerly t I know you jou OU hate cowardice cowardIce but but n never ver mind running away from the OBrien O'Brien trio Come hero herot Ill I'll look you up four tour hours dally and daily and shoo away even the chickens If It they come comeI hovering i around I If only I 1 could Brewis sighed Pe Peg frowned Crowned to hinder binder she sho asked Only the tact fact that I that I love you OU so much already I hard hardly dare risk riNk loving you more when them when Im I'm a predestinate failure Brewis groaned She stamped her foot toot at him saying saving Icily Icily If It If you ou arc really truly my ml prop prop erty 3 can I let you waste yourself looked at her she her she was wae blushing beautifully her beautifully her eyes tender lender despite the cold voice I I hardly think so eo he said with a n. twinkle At an any rate I shall not be a partner r In such a crime I Thereupon hc ho kissed her her her- which her which seems a i fit and proper ending for Cor any dispute betwixt a man and a maid I I |