Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1903-12-31


and secure old Mother Jlnrnan's room.
A small urchin who was hanging
about the door was induced, by the
prospect Of twopence. to show the way
10 the old DANES cottage.
Having seen the room. funny little
place up under the roof, IN which no
could barely stand upright, but which
spotlessly clean as II was. seemed
a very haven of rest to the worn out
young man. and having expressed him
sell as satisfied, and paid ave shill-
ings in advance, as a token OF good
faith, the old dame departed in search
OF new laid eggs. from her own hens,
TO serve up for her new dodgers break
fast.
In the meantime the young man
threw himself into a chair with a
heavy sigh, which the good old soul
hoard as she shut the door upon him.
She returned 70 the room, in about
half an hours time with tray. which
contained the homely but excellent
country fare she had prepared, and,
finding no notice taken of the knock,
with which she announced the arrival
OF breakfast. pushed open the door
and entered.
She found the new lodger fast
asleep on his chair, with his head
resting on the table, and. depositing
her tray thereon also, stood regarding
him with motherly solicitude.
Poor, dear, young gentleman" she
murmured to herself, IF e don't look
dead beat! I'll Jest put the breakfast
by i'm, so as e can see it when g
wakes"
She left the room, closing the door
behind her, and still the young man
slept on, in spite Of his constrained at
| tltude and the hardness of his pillow.
Another half hour passed, at the
end of which time another step was
heard ascending the crazy little wood
en- staircase-a firmer step, but at the
same time lighter than the other; and
another voice-thls time a masculine
one-might have been heard to say,
"All right, Mrs. Jinman-don't you
trouble-will announce myself"
Which the speaker proceeded to do
first of all by the application of his
knuckles, which, proving Intellectual
was followed by the lifting of the
latch, and the appearance of the figure
of DR.. jeremiah Cartwright upon the
threshold.
He, too, contemplated the sleeping
figure doubtfully. "Humph!" he re-
marked, half aloud. Asleep, Ell?
Good thing, too; gone through a lot;
worn himself out. Hullo! What's
this? Breakfast, Ell? All got cold,
too! Better wake him up after ALL"
This he did very gently; and Ted
Burritt started up, rubbing his eyes.
Then, recognizing the situation as
well as the personality OF the indi-
vidual who confronted him.
"Oh, Lord!" he cried, with a grcan,
I'D forgotten all about 1t. But tell me
what the exam"
The doctor interrupted him with a
gesture. whats that l see?" look
ing at the viands through his gold
trimmed spectacIes. Tea? eggs? but
ter? cream? brown bread? My
news will keep; your breakfast won't,
or rather has been kept too long al
ready. Sit down at once and dispose
! OIL inc COulGuNS VI Iuhb lIdys OF you
don't get another word out of me-"
Ted was astonished to find how hun
CRY he was, and had soon cleared the
board; though, at the same time, he
found it rather embarrassing to feel
that he was an object of interest to
an individual in gold-rimmed spec
tacles, who stared at him persistently
through them, and kept up a running
commentary under his breath all the
time. Some of the calculations, too,
which caught his ear were decidedly
of a nature to arouse curiosity on the
part of the hearer, who now and then
could not avoid overhearing such frag
ments as DISQUALIFICATION affair
should like to get at the bottom OF it.
Talk about sensational incidents
Wonder how he'll take 1T" etc.
"And now" said the young man
turning round upon him, tell me
what is the result you have arrived
atT'
Ito be continued)