A SHORT STORY. MRS HYDE'S LANDLORD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 60, 11 March 1911, Page 2

A SHORT STORY.

MRS HYDE'S LANDLORD.

''What's the' number?" asked Mr Todd. ... , ■ Peter Meams glanced at the rentbook in front ot him. "Thirty-seven, Dalstead Flats," lie mumbled, nodding across to tho bailiff. It's a woman—Mrs Hyde." Todd took a few notes in a capacious book. "Wlmmen," he remarked, "are the wust to deal with. They never pay unless they're forced. How much rent does she owe?" "This makes the third week, Peter explained; but if-she pays a fortnight, you—you needn't The bailiff waved : a deprecating hand at him. '-■..'" . • "Now, now," he said, with an indulgent smile, "don't soften! .Keep, 'ardl That's what a landlord 'as to be nowadays—'ard!" A harder landlord than the wizenfaced man that confronted him would liavo been a curiosity. But it was part of Air Todd's policy to natter his clients. __ "Very well,' Mr Todd," Mearns said, rising stiffly to his feet U< leave it entirely in your hands. . He stumped across the dingy office and out into the wide thoroughfare. Todd stepped up to the window and watched the old chap cross the road. "There he goes," he muttered, halt to himself—"the Hardest old file Eustonl AndV'Lor' knows, were all pretty hard!" ' He glanced- down at the address. Dalstead Flats, a huge pile of mean dwellings behind tte huge station, was well-known to him."Twelve shillings!" he said, glancin* at the amount. -"I don't supthe creature wUlavetwelYe p«jnce wuth of sticks; but 111 aye turned into a. back street, -arid Peter id a scowl upon the old chap. He T £S'rac SSfr Wrought, after Sing, favored by a more.than usually ferocious glance »cuj* s That's what they are! I only_asks my just dues .or 'em—and you tt think 1 was robbm' cmi . made up for his "I ain't done* so badly to-ciay, he thought; "and if Todd manages to get that woman to pay np, HI have done extry good. notice the stir which took place m btinTwall, watching the sjoopmg figure' on the other side. . "That's 'im!" a hoarse voice croaked "I'd know 'is narrer shoulders anywhere! That's 'Stingy PeterM^ %£.****% th^t ££ SarTf catlike ftgj falls behind him as tho rascals crept closer The first intimation he revived of his danger was when a rtJged arm went round his neck and afird, murderous hand gripped at his thin throat, choking tho cry ot alarm which broke up. "Quick! Out 'im, cant you? a voice breathed. , ~ Old and feeble as he was, the old landlord fought like a wild cat Po and fro, across the whole width ot the pavement, he and his assailants swayed. Then an outstretched foot brought Mearns thudding on the cold slabs? and, with a hoarse cry ot triumph, the rascals *threw themselves upon'him. ' "'lt him! 'It him!" With bulging eyes, Peter saw a lean arm swing back, the loose sandbag clenched iv its grimy fingers. Instinctively he shut his eyes, waiting for the blow to descend. "Help—help! Police—police!" Tho shrill tones of a woman's voice rang out; tbere sounded on th<? pavement the quick tap, tap ot hurrying heels, and a thin, fragile woman threw herself in the way of the falling weapon. ' , . "Help-rhelpl" she screamed again, clutching'at the tough arm. Windows were opened, . heads thrust themselves out, and cries began to ring across the. silent street. _ The leader of the attackers, witfy a fierce oath, leaped clear of the prostrate landlord. "We're done, hang it!" he bawled "Go on, Nip, as 'a,rtl as yer can!" His rascally mates arose, and one of them, with a volley of bloo'1? curdling oaths, sprang at the woman. "Take that, you interfering 'agl' he snarled, clenching his fist. As Peter sat up he heard th© heavy blow land, and saw the fragile figure fall without a groan. Then, as one of the thieves passed him, he received a stunning blow on the temple, jrkich sent him senseless on the pavement again. The next thing.Mearns remembered was when he Found himself sitting up, in his own room, with a splitting headache, and a Iceiing of utter exhaustion weighing mm down. A man in a s:::oci5:-coat came i»p and pressed him Town on the j.:'iiow again. . "You must :ie qui'e still, Mr Mearns," the rfcetor *aLJ "How long • ava I been like tlu.T Peter asked. "Two days," said th-3 factor. "You are not quir.*l- a young man now, you uniie •.stand, and the tio-w you received '»as a very svvere <:r«. . Peter lay so f,n£ without sj-calaug that the doctor fanciod h3 ha.l co/ed -off again. Bub, a= !-c arose to k-i,se the 'oom, fche >oic3 from the led sounded. "What 'app3.i.-;J to- to ilie woman?" , . .i ' "She was rathe? bail:v h:\rty the doctor remar-iud. "She js jh tbe infirmary." "I—l'd like to 'ear about Jer, said Peter Mearns slowly. _ If there's anything to be done, I'd like it to be done." Despite the miserable room, the doctor knew that the -old man lying on the none too clean bed was likely to prove the richest patient he would ever have the fortune to attend.

"Very well, Mr Mearns," he said; "it shall be as you wish."

"I'd like to see someone as knows something about her," the landlord Continued "She—she did me a good furn she did—more than many a ivan would 'aye done."

<"I agree with you," said the little .-, gentleman briskly; "and I might say that the magistrate, when he remanded the ruffiians who attacked }} "Were they caught, then?" - ■- "The eagerness with which the old chap voiced this query made the doctor grin quietly to himself. "Oh, yes!" he- replied. "The police came up and caught two of them, and the others were landed on the following day." ' 'Good !'' grunted Peter. ' 'And now, what did the magistrate say " "He said that your rescuer deserved every credit for the plucky way in which she went to your assistance." "Quite right, too!" said the sick man. , Aboixt an hour after the doctor had left, Peter was able to sit up, and Mr Todd, looking the picture of health, came into the room. "Good afternoon, sir," he said, taking off his hat and advancing towards the bed. "I've called once or twice to try to see you." '"What did you want with me?" "Oh, only about that little job you j gave me! I managed it all right." Peter lay back on his hard pillow and closed his eyes. ■ "I got into the flat,'* continued Todd, "and cleared the furniture. It'll be sold in the auction room tomorrow." "Don't suppose it'll fetch much?" "Oh, it ain't too bad!" commented the bailiff. "Some of the things are

very old and very good. . Shouldn't be surprised if" we managed to got our money—and exes." "All .right," said the landlord; "I'll leave it to you. -.'-My head's-tob bad to bother much about it just now. Como and see me after the sale." ■He doze^ peacefully through the rest of th&t day, and' the following morning found him strong enough' to get up. The doctor, when he called, was surprised to find his patient fully clothes and seated in his- armchair beside th© window. . Late in the afternoon the landlady ushered in to Peter a tall, sternfaced police-inspector. * "Mr Mearns?" that official asked. "That's, me," said Peter. "Sit down, sir." The police officer, howeyer, seemed toJgnorc the friendly invitation. He repiained where1 he stood by the -doorway,'a hard, unrelenting figure. "I want you.to give me,the full particulars of the assault," he said, withdrawing his notebook. "I have charge of the case." For the next five minutes Peter gaye1 such details of the attack as he could remember, and the official's pencil was kept busy. Then the inspector closed his book with a snap. "You won't be called upon to give your evidence for some time yet," he said slowly. "The woman who saved you has^—has had a shock and a relapse" . . i "While sho lay in the- infirmary," the police officer answered, taking a pace : forward, "half killed through her gallant deed, which saved your? life, Mr Mearns, her landlord had the bailiffs put into her miserable home, and every stick and rag in it was removed." 1 "Good Heavens!" "Her child ;w¥'s* ( left in an empty room, and, but''for'the kindness of a. neighbour, as poor as herself, but blessed with a heart, Mr Mearns, the child,'might have died." ■ ' Peter felt his limbs trembling beneath him. Inch by inch he lifted himself out of his chair. "Her name," h^ breathed—"what is her name?" x "Marian Hyde!" said the inspector. One blind rush carried the miserable landlord across the room, and the next moment the inspector felt his arm seized by two trembling hands. "Ididn't know! I didn't know!" the landlord cried. "It's the truth! I swear.it!" The inspector shrugged his shoulders. : y - ■ •■■' ■ " ■■■■.•■..' ■■■ ■• :.■ -^ Todd ,was here yesterday," he said quietly. "He told you of what had happened. Why didn't you stop him, man?" Peter's wizened face twitched with emotion. "I didn't know it was her!" he said. "You—you don't think that I would 'a-ve done such a thing if I'd known?" Suddenly, a thought came into his head. He leaped back and glanced at the clock. "It ain't too late yet!" he cried. "Get me a cab--—get me something that can go quick! I want to get to the auction room! I'll buy back 'er stuff at any price!" For the first time since he had entered that room the inspector's features softened a trifle. His hand was quite gentle .as he pressed the old man back into his chair. I "Don't excite yourself," he said. "I'll see that you arrive there in time." ! Peter's finger drummed impatientjly on the arm of his chair while he waited by th© window, and the rumble of wheels brought him to his feet at once. "Steer's auction room, and drive as fast as you can!" was his command to the cabman. With a long, /quavering sigh Marian Hyde came back to consciousness and looked round her. Slight as her movement was, it attracted the attention of the nurse on duty in the ward,.. There was a whispering at the door, a moment's silence, and then a little figure, radiant in spotless white clothes, a silken ribbon in her hair, and a huge bunch of glorious flowers clutched in her hands, flew up to the bed. "Oh, mummy—mummy!" The tired woman sat up suddenly, and, Avfth a faint cry, reached out her thin arms, and the white figure disappeared into their enveloping embrace. "But tell me, darling," the mother j

said, "whb/sgave"'-you these lovely clothes and rojses?" "I don'^ vk^pwi mummy," the child replied', 'hef eyes" dancing with delight; f^'but I.ye sjich a. lot to tellyou. Th^jnaSty,; men who took- away our furnittjTe ;fe|ought therii all .back again, aiiSJ^i^rtso many'^ew things as well. tJien a lady came and dressed me in the^e lovely -clothes, and gave me these floAters, and told me.to come and see you." "I^— T don't understand," Marian murmured. A nurse approached, and pointed to the flowers. "If you search there, perhaps\you will understand, dear, she said. Marian looked at th© roses and found an envelope attached to the cord, which held them together. "From Mrs Hyde's landlord," she "read aloud. , . Nor were the flowers the only gift which•ij.cairi**. from that peculiar but not altogether ungrateful quarter.