"If you think Ah'm going
to stand for a lazy sneaking little drunkard keeping the whole
street awake, and here it is prett' nearly midnight--"
Just then Mr. William Wrenn saw and heard the most astounding
thing of his life, and became an etemal slave to Tom Poppins.
Tom's broad face became hard, his voice businesslike. He
shouted at Mrs. Zapp:
"Beat it or I'll run you in. Trouble with you is, you old hag,
you don't appreciate a nice quiet little chap like Wrenn, and
you try to bully him--and him here for years. Get out or I'll
put you out. I'm no lamb, and I won't stand for any of your
monkey-shines. Get out. This ain't your room; he's rented
it--he's paid the rent--it's his room. Get out!"
Kindly Tom Poppins worked in a cigar-store and was accustomed to
talk back to drunken men six feet tall. His voice was
tremendous, and he was fatly immovable; he didn't a bit mind the
fact that Mrs. Zapp was still "glaring speechless."
But behold an ally to the forlorn lady. When Theresa, in the
hall below, heard Tom, she knew that Mr.
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