The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-07-03

The agent swallowed hard, then a
way OF escape opened before him.
What | was about to say he. an
swered in matter-of-fact tones, as he
produced a small green can from his
pocket, was, that if you will sprinkle
this powder thoroughly in the corners
OF your sink and along your pantry
shelves you will have no further trouble
with-that is-of the sort you men
toned short time ago"
"Oh, but wasn't it real thoughtful of
you to bring it,
Mrs Fisby took the can gratefully
and gave the bold fingers that still grasp
ed hers a faint pressure. You did
speak about 1t SO delicate, too-just like
MIR F. He was that rehned-he never
would call a spade a spadei'
Beside Mrs. Fisby on a slippery horse
hair sofa that sank in recklessly toward
the middle, the agent now spent bliss
full but uneasy half-hour.
He made no further attempt to put
his feelings into words, but by judicious
illusions to the condition OF his lonely
heart and Preside Ca hall bedroom ra-
d1ator) he called forth Mrs. Fisby's ever
ready sympathy, and when he finally
took his departure he was entirely salts
fed that the lovely widow was his for
the asking.
The next afternoon the equinoctial set
in Just as the little agent was starting
homeward from the office to the bleak
comforts of his clearinghouse he was
overtaken by messenger-boy with
note for him.
The rain was falling heavily, and he
had no umbrella, SO he put the bright
pink envelope in his pocket to be openeu
as soon as he should get home. RE
reached shelter at last, wet to the skin,
and in his haste to get into dry clothes
he entirely forgot the note.
He ate a soggy dinner, and then, hud-
died close to the luke-warm radiator, he
prepared to spend a dismal evening
alone in his little room, while the wind
and rain ratified the window, and the
solitary gas-jet swayed and tilckered IN
the draft from the loose easement
He finally dozed off in his chair and
dreamed that he was again sitting be-
side Mrs. Fisby in her warm parlor, and
that a mammoth diamond sparkled on
the white hand he held in his own. A
sub-conscious uneasiness began to dis
turb his dream as the hand was With
drawn from his clasp and pointed at
a pink object on the floor.
He awoke with start, and made a
dive for his overcoat, which hung dry
ing on the back of the chair. Yes, there
in the pocket was the pink note, still
unread.
1t gave off faint, familiar perfume,
which thrilled the little agents olfac-
tories. and he shifted it blissfuAy as he
opened the envelope:
Wednesday, S p. m.
Mr.. B. F. Jones,
Agent for Carr & Little,
Sir:
l write this standing on a chair
cannot at this instant form any definite
idea of how long it will continue to
float but 1t is my earnest wish that 1t
will continue to do so till l get this
written
I am calm now and shall try to remain
so though it was not without a strange
feeling of alarm that ] saw my best
roomer float out the front door clinging
to a twenty-eight dollar sofa. l do not
now have any hopes that he will ever
bring it back.
Even as l write these few lines pill
low goes floating by met cost me FIVE
dollars. l did not try to grasp it, but if
an umbrella comes my way | shall try
TO get lIIdl-
Will you kindly tell me why you had
the shingles and boarding taken off the
roof? Rafters are real useful in their
place, but will not keep out the rain.
You ought to see my carpets. The col
ors were not fast, and it looks as if
your kalsominers had been here and
upset their pals all over the place. The
next storm that occurs, if l live through
| hope I will shall move
into the park and take it straight. It
will at least be whole lot cleaner than
this mess.
I shall expect your firm to pay for the
carpets.
Still floating, yours respectfully.
MRS. EUGENE AMOS FISBY.
P. S.-Do not hurry yourself on my
account. There is nothing left to spoil.
The agent dropped the letter, and sat
for a moment staring blankly at the
wall.
He had committed an inexcusab1e
blunder, and the situation came over
him with full force, making him turn
alternately hot and cold The carpen-
tiers had struck when that job of re-
pairing the roof was half finished; the
place could not be seen from the street,
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