The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-16

pressed something fixed in a brass
plate under one of the tubes. Mr.,
Crockett watched him with great curl
osity but the experience he had ac-
quired on his journey, added to his ma
tive shrewdness, made him too eau
tious to ask questions. Nevertheless he
was surprised when the door flew open.
and he came very near to making some
comment. But he restrained himself
and followed Cousin Jim inside.
Mr.. Pearson led the way up O narrow
staircase. There was no carpet on the
steps, and a close, heavy odor as of air
that had been breathed more than
once, filled the hall. A lamp gllmmer-
ed feebly at a turning in the staircase.
Cousin Jim is a little more savin'
than reckoned he was" thought Mr..
Crockett but it's just as well, I'm a
keerful man myself"
They climbed up and up, and II SEEM
ed to Mr.. Crockett that they would
never come to the end of these steps
He was q muscular man and could have
thrown Cousin Jim over his shoulder
and carried him a quarter of a mile
without feeling any overwhelming ex-
haustion, but he was not accustomed to
climbing steps.
You live pretty high up, pears to me-
Cousin JIM" he risked at last.
Yes" said Mr.. Pearson with a faint
smile; ITS healthier, you know. The
higher you go the better the air."
Mr.. Crockett had not thought of that.
But the end of those steps came at last
and they knocked at a door five flights
from the ground. They were welcomed
by Mrs. Pearson, a small woman, who
was pallid and flabby like her husband.
Mr.. Crockett was a gallant man and
he did not forget the ties of kinsbip.
He opened his arms and gave. Mrs.
Pearson a hearty embrace. Then he
kissed her on the cheek. A little color
come into her pale face.
Powerful glad to see you, Cousin
Mary" said Mr. Crockett, "and it
perked me UP nightly to see Cousin
Jim, too. standin' there on the plat
form when the train came up. I'd a-had
peskY hard time flndin' you all by
myself in this great city. Now don't
you tucker Yourself out foolin' with
my valise and overcoat. Just let your
servant take 'em and throw 'em into
the corner anywhere"
THE fact is" said Mr.. Pearson "our
servants 1T us yesterday and We
haven't able to get others that
suited us / Haven't you read in the
papers a. the trouble we have In
the cities with servants? Always dis
satisfied, always striking. There's nc
getting along with them. 1 really be-
lieVe it's sometimes easier to let them
go entirely and do ones own work"
That's so! That's sol" assented Mr.
Crockett, cheerfully. 'I wouldn't have
no slouchin' servants foolin' around
me. like doin' my own work, but II
might be different with Cousin Mary
She don't pear to be real strong"
"Oh, yes, l am strong" said Cousin
Mary. "My looks deceive you"
In PROOF of her words she snapped up
the valise and overcoat and disap-
Feared with them down a dark and
pinched little hall. Mr.. Crockett was
taken presently into the front room,
where he struck twice against chairs
and once against the wall. An oil lamp
stood or the dresser and Cousin jim
apologlzed for the dimness of it's light.
IT'S bad, I KNOW" he said, but the
gas company is such a robber. Every
month they'll send in a bill for two
or three times the amount of gas you
really use. It's not so much the money
we mind, but it's the principle of the
thing. That's the reason we had oul
meter taken out. It's the only way you
can fight these grasping corporations
Lots of the millionaires on Fifth ave-
nue. have done the same thing"
Mr.. Crockett admired Cousin Jim's
| stand for principle. He had a great
horror for all corporations, which he
try, and he was heart and soul with
Cousin Jim in his fight against the gas
| company. But this did not drive away
the sense of physical uneasiness which
had seized him when he entered the
| room, He did not know where to put
himself. The chairs seemed to small
for his bulky frame, and he was afraid
| that if he stretched out his legs they
| would reach from one wall to the other
Mr.. Crockett was accustomed to wide
! areas and he felt suffocated.
Mrs. Pearson spread a white cloth
on a small table and brought in some
coffee and cold meat and bread and
butter. Mr.. Crockett was hungry, hun.
| grier thar he liked to say, and he
| pulled up his chair with alacrity wher
| Cousin Jim invited him to attack the
food. But he was surprised to see that
! Mr.. and Mrs. Pearson took no hand al
the knife and fork. He asked them tC
| join him. He said he didn't think Il
was manners for him to eat alone. Bu
| Cousin Jim shook his head,
1--WE ate dinner" he said, with the
same faint little smile, before l Wen
| down to the train to meet you. W.
ate so heartily that we really have M
appetite now for anything more"
Mrs. Pearson nodded assent.
Mr.. Crockett turned to the meat anC
coffee again with a relieved conscience
| He was surprised to find how extreme
| ly hungry he was. He was a yer!
| large man and required plenty of food
Slice after slice of the meat and tn
bread and butter disappeared, and Mi
! Crockett became conscious, presently
that Cousin Mary was watching hin
with keen, apprehenslve eyes. II
reached the last slice of meat and won
dered why Cousin Mary did not brinl
more. But she made no movement
| Mr.. Crockett was sorely tempted to ca
that one remaining slice, but he hat
been taught in Kentucky that it wa
not good manners to take the las
piece of food from the plate, and sc
after a struggle, he let it alone. Whel
he pushed his chair back, and Will
Cousin Mary was hurriedly taking tn
things away he inquired about tn
boys.
They're asleep now" said Cousil
Jim. "rhey have to rise always yer!
early in the morning, and 1 make then
| go to bed soon after dark"
School must take up powerful ear
ly here" said Mr. Crockett, "if boy
have to tumble cut of bed that way
| They must be mighty smart boys livin
| here in Nam York ALL fhnir lives LEnnu