Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-10-03
"How' queer for YOU to find this

"How queer for you to find this
quiet little place." said I.
II came to see your college. You
have very fine one" he replied.
"Thc president is an old friend of
mine. In fact. we were college
chums, and shouldered muskets in
the old Ninety-second New York side
by side. l have been at his house to-
day, and when he saw how worn out
I was with this cough, he advised
me to rest awhile before going to
Washington. He recommended me
to YOU" He then fumbled in his
pocket and brought out a letter,
which he handed me. 1 knew the
writing we'll. opened it. 1t ran:
Dear Mrs. Brathwaite: You will do all
good people favor II you will take in
my old friend DR.. Wynne, for a little
stay. He ought not to travel at present,
and think your neighborhood is exact
~ the one for him just now. I shall come
out to see him soon: meantime do what
you can for him. and thus place me only
deeper In your debt as friend. and
believe me. yours faithfully,
las ever,
"Marmaduke Smith,"
Now Marmadulle Smith and had
studied our geography in the same
class at the village school, Marina
duke at the head, Charlie Blount at
the foot, and ! half way between,
and there had been time-well I
won't go into that, but I felt if Mar
maduke wanted anything. and 1
could procure it for him, l was bound
to do so.
do you think you can go up
stairs?" l asked. MY other rooms
are all taken"
front or back?" said he in his
quavering voice.
We'll, I'm sorry to say that my
aunt has the upper front, and l have
the room across the hall from hers.
There is only a small room left, back
of my aunt's."
slave you other boarders in the
house?"
Eyes, lady and a gentleman.
They are strangers to each other.
The lady is in the front, and the
gentleman at the back. l could give
you a small room over his-the gen.
tleman's, 1 mean.'
"That will do capitally," said DR..
Wynne.
"Or could change into the little
back room myself" said 1, "and give
you mine; it wouldn't be much trou-
BILE. The front is pleasanter, and
~
"Not for the world" cried out the
old gentleman, mot for the" and
then he began to cough again until
the tears rained down his cheeks.
Il viii take the back room with the
greatest pleasure" said he when he
could speak. "IYhen can 1 Gomez"
AT once" said I. "Have you a
trunk?"
"Oh, yes, we arranged that. If I
did not return by four o'clock, DR..
Smith was to send it out. You know
he boards in the village. but he
thought the dust of Main street
would irritate my lungs. 1t seems
I'll tStN ~Noe$ CAV peaeeAu ouI
here"
I settled DIR. Wynne in the little
room over Mr.. Beldon's, and came
down to find my lower-back in the
hall.
you've taken a new bearder," said
he, after all Your promises
Vie is not newspaper man. ]
piamised not to take newspaper men,
You really must know that cannot
be bound to take no one while you
are here. In that case. you had bet
ter engage the entire house"
He muttered something which
sounded like that would have been
better" and then spoke aloud. "How
is it possible for me, poor reporter,
to take whole house like this? Of
course can't. What is this new man
like?"
"He is an old clergyman" said I.
"He is highly recommended by my
old friend. President N[armaduke
Smith, Of the Galtersville College.
He is from way out west somewhere.
don't know where. But how did
you know that had taken anyone?''
Glow do 1 know? I'm sure can't
tell you, It's in the air, l suppose,
a. you said this morning. You are
sure he is just a clergymana"
"One look at the poor old man is
enough said l. 'Why, what did
you thinks he was?"
Swell, Thought it might be
old Haight himself perhaps, come
out here to track out the mystery
up at the Hall. But, of course, he
would make no secret of who he is,
and he wouldn't tell lie, not to get
the whole scoop. What peculiar SUI
perstition does your friend affect?'
"If you mean what church he be-
longs to-" 1 said stiffiy, for did not
at all like the lightness of his tone
i'll speaking of religious matters, 81
think he is Baptist. He said some
thing about bathing, called it INNER
sion, this morning. Poor old gentle
man! I'm afraid he's not long fol
this life"
WELL" said my lower-back, shrug
ging his shoulders. II suppose II
have to put up with him, but
want to say just this, it he makes
noise overhead, or roams round a
night like your aunt, you can coun
me out"
I'm very sorry" said I, "but my
poor aunt cannot walk one step
How you do harry me. You are Sc
fanciful. l really have no one t.
help me, and nowhere to- turn.