The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-22

their honeymoon. Mrs. Propett
noticed with disgust that there
was a drummer on the plat
form, and a New York drummer at
that. She judged all this from his
smart clothes and the labels on his
bags. Mrs. Propett had a rooted OBJ
lection to drummers in general, and
New York drummers in particular. She
was forced to admit to herself that
he had a frank, manly face, but still
she viewed with ill-concealed suspicion
Josiah's easy reception of his friendly
oVertures. Josiah was not a person to
be trusted, and so, leading his back
of the depot, she took away from him
all the money for the trip except that
which he needed for the tickets, and
then she escorted him to the ticket
office The drummer, she observed, had
already purchased his ticket and
could scarcely have any use for Jo-
stah's.
The long train pulled in. With in
ward trepidation Mrs. Propett permit
ted herself to be boosted aboard by
Josiah and the drummer. The latter
seemed to have attached himself to
the party, and nothing short of direct
dismissal would drive him away
Later she was glad enough that she
had not administered the curt rebuff,
for at Bridgeport Josiah slipped out
to buy sandwich. and thereafter was
seen no more. 1t was the friendly
drummer who declared that Josiah had
been left behind and suggested that
telegram be sent to the station mas
ter to have Josiah follow on the next
train. 1t was the drummer also who
arranged with the conductor about the
TICKET for herself, as Josiah had both
in his pocket, and last of all il was
the drummer who insisted that she stop
vurfA Ii
with his wife while waiting in New
York for the luckless Mr.. Propett,
You can get a better train in the
morning for Wilkesbarre, he EXPLAIN
ed, and we will be only too glad to
have you with u.s."
There was real welcome in his ewes
and voice. Mrs. Propett was wholly
lost without Josiah and surrendered
Internationally.
When they reached the Grand Cen
trail Depot and the drummer led her
through the mob gathered around the
gate she chung to his arm with the
pathos of age. He led her to the wait
ing room, and then left her with strict
inJunctions not to move nor make the
acquaintance of strangers. 1t was to
her an interminable wait, and what
with the novelty of her position and
her inconsistencies for Josiah, 1t was
thoroughly subdued woman whom
the drummer encountered when he
came back. The sight of his face, the
only one she knew In all the crowd,
gave her most novel thrill-it was
almost as though she saw her own
son.
1T was a long wait. wasn't it?' he
asked sympathetically, but it's all
right now. My wife is expecting you,
Josiah and the trunk are both ali
right, and We'll be home in a fifty"
Mrs. Propett lacked the experience
to realize that the handsomely an-
pointed carriage was not a livery hack,
but the drive behind the we'll groomed
horses was restful. Even more to her
liking was the light hospitality stream
ing from the open door as the car
riage drew up before stately apart
ment house near the park. but when
she had literally shot skyward in an
elevator, had been Invested of her
wraps and conducted into q room
ab1aZe with light, where sat Josiah, in
comfortable converse with her sister
Helen, the latter's husband-and
Maudc, she was so COMPOUNDED that
she laughed and cried simultaneously
on Maude's shoulder with Maude's
arms around her. long before she re-
called that she had left home because
she could have no Thanksgiving" with
a thanlSless daughter.
And then. after dinner when they
told her bow Josiah had been q MEM
Der of the conspiracy, how he had rid
den from Bridgeport in the smoker so
that Henry might do his share of the
work; how he had left the train at
the Harlem Station, to be met by
Maude and whisked home while Hem
ry held Mrs. Propett at the Grand Cen
trail Depot: how Sister Helen and her
husband had been posted to be on the
scene, Mrs. Propett could only turn to
her spouse and remark:
Josiah, 1t was just the other day
I told you. you were gettin' sense at
last"
And Josiah only remarked syly,
well, ma, I guess you've been gettin'
some yourself, lately"
1T Is believed that Seth Lows
term of Office as Mayor of New York
has cost him somewhere in the neigh
borhood of S1500OO He provided out
~ totv Eos