The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-06-02
THE EARWIGS.

 somehow always been very expensive to me-" he broke in on her Introductory remark.
 Well, it's different this time," she interposed with an air that would have convinced all but those who knew her failing. You'll see it's me that's goin' to earn the money this time and the new idea is goin' to do it. 'Tain't to be expected that you'd think about it, but know it's time Mary Anne was learn in to play on the piano. All her friends is takin' lessons an she ought to have a fine education like the rest of them; she'll be a real knoW-nothin' if she don't, so I've been thinkin' about gettin' a piano for her on the install ment plan.
 "A piano!" he gasped, ''an' I hardly able to make an honest livin' with the wages I'm earnin', an the times that hard-here you're tellin' me you've got an idea that's goin' to help us, an you talk of piano. I thought 'twould be some fool notion"
 John Henry, if you'll only listen to me minute you'll see fer yourself that I'm goin' to ask nothin' of you, nothin' --only your permission to let the room on the second floor back. I've been thinkin' it all out; we can do without 1t jest as we'll as not. Now if l can get nice, genteel-lookin' man that will pay well for it-an' l don't see why there wouldn't be plenty of gentlemen around as would be glad of the chance to live in such a respectable neighbor- hood. for it's good enough for anybody to be happy and content in--with the money that I'd be gettin' for that room I could be buyin' piano on the install ment plan. An then Mary Anne could have her lessons like the rest of them. She knows one of the teachers at school who's willin' to learn her the beginnin' and after that-she's so smart-she can pick up the rest for herself"
 t'An' how about the expense of extra furniture, and all that?" (Mr. Wicks had in mind several schemes of his wife that promised we'll but had ended dis astrously)
 70, you needn't give that a thought she said reassuringly. T can spare lot of things out of the other rooms. # It'll be clear profit" she continued with the convincing sanguinity that comes of high hopes.
 ..Well,'' interposed MT. Wicks dubi- ously. "supposin'-' but the sign went \ up the next day.
 For a week after that every time the door-bell rang Mrs. Wicks' heart leapt to her throat with happy expectation. Thus far the ringing had brought noth- # ing but vexation and disappointment to her.
 Does Mrs. Mallorey live here?" < (Mrs. Mallorey and Mrs Wicks had had a falling out recently)
 ''No!'' and the door was closed upon the inquirer with a spiteful bang. Then the census man called; and a X tramp asked for assistance. One or two supplicants-"Thec cheap, down-in- the-mouth, celluloid-collar kind" # (NIrs. Wicks way of rating them), in~ spected the room, asked the price and y said they would call again, but didn't. x Didn't look for them to call again" grumbled the disgusted Mrs. Wicks. \ why, you could ha' turned them fel- 1ers upside down an not a penny would a dropped out O any O their pockets. It's real gents I want!"
 Then one fine morning when Mrs. Wicks' flame of hope had nearly burned to the socket a sharp, business like ring was heard. She dropped her work and hustled to the door.
 tThere on the threshold stood as fine a gentleman as one could wish to clap his eyes on. (This was Mrs. Wicks' ex- planation of the caller.) "He was dressed like them swells on the avenue, wore, a diamond ring and a diamond scarf-pin in his gay tie and heavy gold chain drawn right acrosst a fancy vest. Well, an when he says with an elegant bow, Madame, I believe there is room to let here why, I was al- most ashamed to show him up to the place, sort of filtered like with the leavins' of old furniture He looked around the room with 'ristocratic air. then walked up to the window an looked out at the neighborin' houses, ahked the price by the week and by the month an if he could have his break fast brought to his room Of mornin', because it was such bother to be go- in out so early for meals, as his busi- ness didn't begin till late an when I said thought he could, he engaged the apartment-as he called it-at once an said he'd be round the next day to take possession"
 All this was poured into the tired ears of MT, Wicks with a volubility charac- teristic of Mrs. Wicks. He scratched his head-a gesture of concern with him--but she was in a seventh heaven of delightful anticipation and provok- ing I-told-you-sos.
 True to his word, the new lodger moved into his quarters the next day. And what is more. MT. Montague (sweet name thought Mrs. Wicks) proved a model lodger. He asked for no extra privileges, was quiet and or derly, had a pleasant word for his land lady when he met her on the stairs or Tn the hall in his daily wanderings to and from the house. He even went so ' far out of his way on several occasions to stop for little chat in Mrs. Wicks' sitting-room, and during these conver- satiohs that set the emotional Mrs Wieks into a perfect tiutter of pleasur- able excitement he would follow her into the dining-room in sort of pre- occupied way as though 10th to tear himself away from such an attractive lady.