The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-12-29
POTWINS TROUBLES
With Dilatory People

n YER the telephone Potwin said to
Mrs. Potwin: 81 should like to
break the recorder once and get start
ed on time It's 1880 a. m. now. Do
you think, il you made a desperate
struggle, that you could start in and
get ready BY half-past seven? Whats
that? Yes, / suppose so. l shall be
home to dinner at five. Now, if you
think thatkI am pressing you unduly
/ can just as we'll get the tickets for
tomorrow night as motor some time
early next week. Oh, well, don't get
mad about it. Good-by."
ssRg to the theater tonight" he
explained 10 the man who had excused
him a moment. Il thought would
gigs the madam due notice, but don't
suppose it will do any good. She viii
potter about in her sweet, iIrespon-
sibIe way until half an hour before
schedule time, and then she'll inform
me that she had no idea that it was so
late. There is a fairly accurate clock
on the mantelpiece and she generally
wears her watch, to say nothing of the
facilities afforded by the grandfather's
clock in the hallway, the cuckoo clock
in the diHing-rOpm and the half dozen
others scatterea about the house And
she hadn't amy idea ID was Sd latRl ri
she said she thought she had plenty of
time there might be some foundation
for IT, Not a married man yourself,
are your I thought not miss the
seams and furroWs in your faeeond the
generally haggard expression that
comes after q few years association
with woman toa man who loves
.spunctuality I'm not an irritable man
fut e irrifates me to have to
anybody when set time has
seen pom I never missed an
ppointl 'in my life.
Generally speaking, remarked the
friend, II detest q man who never
missed an appointment in his life. !
happened tc meet you here on time to-
Gay, but It was entirely by accident
and 1 don't suppose that it will ever
happen again. ! abominate infallibil-
lty mpoor, mortal creatures and I'd be
willing TO bet you any reasonable
amount that yop miss, on an average,
three appointments a week III bet
you miss one before the day is out"
''I'll take You up. on that for a lunch, E"
said Potwini brislzly, and I'll tell you
about il if ! do. Now, let's see if we
can't get that matter settled up,'
The two plunged into their business,
which lasted for some little time At
last PotNin said: Well you look in
some time during the afternoon with
the papers and TIL sign them. Let me
see. Can you get around by four
o'clockg
The otherman said he could, and with
q parting adjuration from POtwin to
be punctual took his leave,
He was back again five minutes after
the stipulated time and took Potwin's
repfoaches goOd-humoredly The pa
pers that he had with him were signed,
after some further discussion, and the
deal was closed. Then the delinquent
proposed refreshment, and, Potwin as
senting, they descended to the street
and refreshed themselves. After
awhile Potwin said: well, 4 must be
going I've got train to catch"
4What time does your train leave ??
asked his friend taking out his watch
and looking at It.
"A5 4:45, and I've got FIVE minutes to
set % the station"
lhen you won't make it,"
guess that's righs but theu
there's another at 4:B0.e
Does 70 take more than ten min.
ufes TO get out home2a
More than ten minutes TO get out
q Qak Parl9 7 saould say SOL What
put that into your head?''
Nothing partioular, said tn,
friend 'oniy you might as wen Civ,
up that you've lost your lunch righf
now heard you ten your wife over
The phone that you would be bacl
bv h7e o'cloek I'm afraid you nav.
missed your appointment with her
0o get Che lunch o. DO you want O,
You Get Che lunch. said Potwin
laughing heartily to cover his dis
eolaAtare.
He annoyed 8 wen q discom