The Brass Girl
Jane and Martin are new tenants in the same apartment house. She occupies the first floor, and he lives on the floor above. Jane is a sculptress, and Martin is a musician. One day they meet for the first time in the hallway. He is impressed with her appearance, while she seems pleased with her new acquaintance. Martin shows annoyance at the hammering that emanates from the apartment below, where Jane is instructing a class of six girls in the gentle art of punching brass, and Jane is by no means, overjoyed in being compelled to listen to the vigorous piano playing that emanates from the apartment directly over hers. Their habits differ radically. She retires early - he plays the piano into the small hours of the night, often accompanied by fellow artists who play the violin and other instruments. One night, despite Jane's repeated rapping, Martin and his musical crowd combine to make the night hideous to her. She, therefore, grasps her chisel and hammers furiously to which the noisemakers upstairs respond with the nerve-racking strains of the "Anvil Chorus." The next day Jane sends for the landlord and gives notice that she is moving. Martin also notifies the landlord that he will seek new quarters at the end of the month. In the meantime, they approach a nervous state demanding medical attention. Their respective doctors advise them to sleep in the open air, and hence, unknown to each other, they rig up beds on their verandas. One night a rain and wind storm comes up and blows their bed clothing to the lawn below. They hurry downstairs after their blankets. Jane beats Martin to the street, grabs up all the bed-clothing in sight, and rushes back to the house. As Martin stands shivering in his wet pajamas by the radiator in his apartment, he hears screams from the apartment below. A burglar has entered Jane's rooms. Martin rushes down and struggles with the burglar. Jane telephones to the police. The burglar is overcome. The police arrive to find the intruder tied to a chair, Jane in her night dress and Martin in his pajamas. When the police captain asks Jane her name she is too embarrassed to reply. Martin saves the day by informing the officers that the burglar has entered the apartment of Mr. and Mrs. Stone. Satisfied with the answer the police depart with their captive. They decide to stay - together in only one apartment - married.Moving Picture World, August 18, 1917
