The House of All Sorts

References

EXPERIENCEE taught me to beware of people who were glib with references. I never asked a reference. I found that only villains offered them.

There was a certain Mrs. Panquist. The woman had a position in a very reputable office. Her husband was employed in another. Her relatives were people of position, respected citizens. She gave me this voluntary information when she came to look at the flat.

The Panquists had a baby and a most objectionable nursemaid. She was the first to come home, bringing the child.

She snatched the key out of my hand.

She did not come or send her things next morning; all day there was no word of her. I had the new furniture bought and everything ready.

Later she rang up to say he was not coming to see it. They had decided to take the flat and would move in early the next morning. She would bring her things before business hours. Furthermore she asked that I prepare an extra room I had below for her maid. To do this I had to buy some new furniture.

Late in the evening she arrived very tired and sour.

I went to the man, who was most insolent, saying, "My wife took the flat; let her pay."

I was in my garden. She screamed, "The door is locked. I can't get in!"

I was brave now though I shook.

I told him.

I ran to the 'phone. The police came. The man stood back, his hands dropping to his sides.

I consulted the law--was turned over to the Sheriff. "Any furniture of their own?"

I carried out the Sheriff's orders, trembling.

I began to make enquiries about the couple, not from those people whose names they had given as reference, but from their former landlady. Their record was shocking. They had rented from a war widow, destroyed her place, and gone off owing her a lot of money.

He went to the man and the woman who were snarling angrily at one another.

He was a huge man and had a cruel face. His mouth was square and aggressive; out of it came foul oaths. He looked a fiend glowering at me and clenching his fists.

Both of the Panquists had jobs; they could pay and I was not going to get caught as the war widow had been.

Again she failed to keep her promise. I asked her for the rent several times but she always put me off. Finally she said rudely, "I am not going to pay; my husband can."

"You--(he called me a vile name)! Open or I will break the door in!" He braced his shoulder against it and raised his great fists. I was just another woman to be bullied, got the better of, frightened.

"You asked me for advice. Take it. If there is any trouble call the police."

"When the rent is paid. You refuse, your husband refuses. The flat is not yours till you pay. I am acting under police orders."

"What do you want me to do?" said the officer.

"This is what you are to do. Watch--when you see them go out take a pass key, go in and fasten up the flat so that they cannot get in until the rental is paid."

"The town is full of such," said the officer. "House owners are having a bad time. Scum of the earth squeezing into the shoes of honest men gone overseas. How much do they owe?"

"Take the child to the room I prepared for you." (The woman had decided she did not want it after I had bought furniture and prepared the room.) I took down milk and biscuits for the child. "When your mistress has paid the rent the door will be opened," I said. The maid bounced off and shortly returned with the woman, who stood over me in a furious passion.

"Shell out," the man told the woman brutally.

"Pay what you owe and get out."

"Open that door! You hear--open that door!"

"Only a couple of suitcases."

"One of you must," said the officer.

"Oh, I'm scared; the man is such a big powerful bully!"

"Not enough value to cover the rental they owe?"

"No."

"No money on me," said the man, "my wife took the flat."

"It suits me," she said. "I will bring my husband to see it before deciding."

"It is usual to exchange the rent for the key," I said knowing this was war-time and that there were some very shady fly-by-nights going from one apartment house to another.

"I'll teach you," she said, livid with fury, and turned, rushing headlong; she had seen her husband coming.

"I am too tired to bother about rent tonight!" she snapped. "I will come up with it in the morning before I go to work."

"Get them out. I won't house such people. They got away with it in their last place, not here."

"Come," I said. "Time is going on, one or the other of you must pay." I pointed to the notice on the kitchen door "RENTS IN ADVANCE." He laughed in my face. "Bosh!" he said. "We don't pay till we are ready."

She gave him a look black with hatred, took money from her purse and flung it at me. My faith in proffered references was dead.