Sunday morning globe., 1901-09-08
CHAPTER XIV
THE FEMALE DRUMMER.

Associations the thing. Ida and
Olga were all right in their way; but
contact with Zaida I found more ben
eficial Her ideas views, and range
Of topics for conversation we're natu.
rally far more extensive. A number of
her words, phrases and expressions
proceeded forthwith to put into my
vocabulary. One thing she endeayored
TO impress upon my mind-always to
dress well; that clothes were half the
battle. could listen by the hour to
her description Of various cities she
had visited
met my match once, she was tell
ing me. "An actor and myself were
giving our experience of the hotel ac-
commodations that had fallen to our
lot. When l was I'm Atlanta | stopped
at the Kimball l began. And when
/ was iu Nashville I put mp at the
Maxwell he replied. When 1 was in
Buffalo ! found the Iroquois accept.
able When I'm Indianapolis the Bates
was my standby was his rejoinder
THE Southern in ST. Louis was my ta-
vorite, and / fancied / could lead him
through a long list, when he said,
When in Calcutta r. and I threw up
both hands / had yet to cross the
water"
1 found a note awaiting me, one
afternoon when 1 got home, telling me
to call around to her rooms that even
Ing: she had a drummer friend from
Philadelphia she desired me to meet.
Now, I always was partial to drum
mers Life was never a dreary waste at
the New Grand If a couple Of knights
Of the road were i'm the office spinning
yarns. remember late one afternoon
a fellow came in town selling some
mining stock I'm a getrich-quick com
pany. He finally brought his persua-
sive powers TO bear on mine host, when
the colonel told him he did not mind
putting his money in a hole in the
ground. but he did hate like sin 10
have to pay a man watch it come Out.
But, / digress. was about 70 tell
my audience of Zaida and her drum
mer friend. / put i'm a good many
more minutes than usual over my
toilet. For Zaidas sake I wanted TO
look my best. not TO speak Of a favor |
able impression ] might make on the
gentleman i'm my own behalf.
climbed the stairs to Laida's apart /
ments. TO find a strange young lady onf
a window.seat at the head of the stairs. .
After knocking, without receiving a /
response, / turned to her with, "Littls
girl, have you seen anything Of Miss /
Zaida?'
She told me she was also in quest
of her. and knowing her TO be the es-
sence Of punctuality, concluded to wait
a few moments.
BY this time 1 discovered Zaida on |
the stairs.
q just stepped down to the corner to
get a sack of bananas. / am glad to
see you two did not wait for an intro
duction" as she unlocked the door.
"Mrs Roland, this is Miss Ashton, a
dear friend Of mine"
Miss Zaida's friends are my friends
also. to use one Of her own express
siOns," 1 replied
When we were seated, I turned to
Zaida with, what is the name OF that
handsome drummer for whom l made
this killing tOilet?' as I pointed to a
wealth of ribbon at neck, corsage, and
in hair.
Ny remark was followed by a hearty
laugh from both the ladies.
"This is the drummer" said Laida,
as she waved her hand in the direc-
tion of Miss Ashton
And I had called her little girl. Her
hair was cut short and she, being abb
breyiated in stature, conveyed rather
a boyish appearance. She was,
in truth, ten years younger than either
Zaida or myself; but I realized, after
an hours conversation, ten years older
in the ways Of the world.
Zaida went on to explain that Miss
Ashton Travelled for a Philadelphia
house, that her occupation was that
Of a peddler, more properly speaking,
than a drummer. She visited the man :
iCure establishments massage parlors, Z
and hair goods emporiums, and sold }
the proprietresses thereof anything {
from a diamond down. s
Her speciality, however was ladies' Y
dress goods. Miss Ashton informed me, {
and before she left the city she would ]
be pleased to show me some attractive ]
patterns.
Regular dreams, as Mr.. Baxter
would say I feel assured put in
Zaida.
I promised TO look at them, know }
ing, however that my finances would Z
not admit Of an extended purchase. .
Zaida told Miss Ashton her next ]
stand" would be Wilmington, and in :
lulred how she thought she would ,
make out in that city y
1T Is but a suburb Of Philadelphia" d
was her reply. yet, one often strikes 7
IL rich in the provinces I'm fact many /
work them in preference to the large {
,ities. BY the way 1 met one Of my G
Did customers in the massage line in {
names Lorraine. She r
was in Atlantic City when you we're t
here last summer Just sack from n
ond she's sore on that town. Z
She says out Of every three men In
pittsburg ones a bum and the others D
i beat She was telling me the time c