Page:Burton Stevenson--The marathon mystery.djvu/54



ELL," said Godfrey, sinking back in his chair, “who are they, anyway?”

“Mr. an’ Mrs. Tremaine—that’s all I know. But they’re mighty nice people—he is, anyway—I don’t see much o’ her—’cept when she rings fer me t’ tell me they ain’t enough heat.”

“How long have they been here?”

“About three weeks—an’ he’s a gentleman. That there Thompson, now—I was leery about lettin’ him have th’ rooms in th’ first place—I didn’t like his looks. But he offered t’ pay in advance. I was goin’ t’ give him notice in th’ mornin’. Th’ agent won’t stand fer no sech goin’s-on.”

“Was he in the habit of getting drunk?”

“Oh, he’s been comfortable tanked ever since he’s been here—I could smell it on him—but never so bad as t’-night. We can’t have that here—our other people wouldn’t stand it.”

“Are all the apartments occupied?”

“No—y’ see, they’ve been remodellin’ th’ house, tearin’ it all apart, turnin’ it inside out. It used to be a hotel an’ a damn poor one. It wasn’t makin’ any money, so th’ guy that owns it thought he’d turn it int’ an apartment house. Th’ men that was a-workin’ on it got three soots done, an’ then around come a