Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-10
Where Matrin0ny Is Made TO Order

persons as they would marry. 1t is our
constant effort to so conduct our busi-
ness that it shall meet the approval Of
good people, elevate, not lower, the
standard of morality, diminish, not in
crease, the temptations to vice and in
crease the happiness and prosperity of
the human family"
The interview lasted more than two
hours, and when ! left carried in my
handbag an Invitation" to return that
evening and meet some possible hus-
bands. The hour nam.I in the invita-
ton was from half past seven till half
past eight. The invitation contained
my name and the number of the firms
docket record in which my application
for "a husband had been registered.
There We're instructions on it to pre-
sent 1T at the door and to give it only
to the person who opened the door.
l was on hand that evening prompt
ly, and, needless to say, with consid-
erable diffidence and trepidation. The
door was opened by the same quiet,
respectable servant that had appeared
in the morning. She looked at the in
vttation, compared the name and num-
Der with list she carried in her hand,
and motioning me to follow, led the
way up one, two, three flights of
stairs.
I'm have to ask you to sit up here" &"
she apologized, This is a very busy
night and all the other rooms are oc-
cupied. As soon as there is vacancy
in a nicer room I'll come for you. Be
sides here she looked again at her
note book besides, your gentleman
has not arrived yet"
The room in which | found myself
was neat and clean. A gay Brussels
carpet was ON the floor. Old fashioned
red plush furniture and "a center table
was a few chromO-lithograph on the
wall completed its furnishings.
l waited here half an hour listening
to the footballs, the good-nights the
murmur of dozen voices in the halls
and adjacent rooms. At last the SER
want appeared and conducted me down
to the second floor and into the front
parlor. There Mr.. Sharp was awaiting
me and with him "A gentleman in even
ing dress. Mr.. Sharp introduced the
stranger, bowed to us both and disap-
peared, closing the door gently behind
him.
They Meet
Mr.. Larkins looked sheepish, and
muttering something about the state Of
the weather, seated himself in the pat
ent rocker after motioning me with a
oourtly wave of the hand TO another
and smaller chair. Mr.. Larkins stated
his case. He was a Widower, sixty
years of age; had no children; he had
lived i'm New York five years and had
succeeded in getting acquainted with
nobody outside the transient element
that came and went to and from his
boaring house.
AS the conversation progressed it de-
Veloped that Mr.. Larl<ins was looking
for a different sort Of wife from that
which l seemed likely to make, and at
the end of fifteen minutes conference
he pulled a bellrope, under which ap-
peared the legend "In case of trouble
pull the bell" Beneath, in smaller
print. there We're instructions that
under no consideration would a client
he allowed to open the door of the
room or to appear I'm the hall after a
conference without first pulling this
bellrope and summoning an attendant.
In few moments she appeared the
same polite, discreet serVitor, and
having ascertained that the halls We're
clear and that there was no danger of
meeting any other client on the stair
case, she indicated to Mr.. LarlSins that
he might depart which that gentle
man did, with a deep bow to myself