Mexico Missouri message., 1906-10-11
Copyright, by LothrOD Publishing Company.
CHAPTER XIX.-oONTrNUED.


CHAPTER XIX.-uoNT1NuED
al think that's it. He's getting old,
and he's come along into his second
childhood. A couple of more months
at this rate, and I'm afraid I'll have
to ring up one of those nice shiny
black wagons to take him off to the
foolish house"
Cant you talk to him, and tell him
better?"
Il could. l know it all by heart
all the things to say to a man on the
downward path. Heaven knows I've
heard them often enough, but I'd feel
ashamed to talk that way to Uncle
Peter. If he were my son, now, I'd
cut OF his allowance and send him
back to make something of himself,
like Sile Higbee with little Hennery;
but I'm afraid all can do is to watch
him and see that he doesn't marry one
of those little pink-silk chorus girls,
or lick a policeman, or anything"
You're carryin' on the same way
yourself" ventured his mother.
That's different" replied her per-
spicaciOus son.
Uncle Peter had refused to live at
the Hightower after three days in that
splendid and populous caravansary.
ut suits me well enough" he ex-
planned to Percival, "but have to look
after Billy Brue, and this amt any
place for Billy. You see Billy amt
city broke yet. Look at him now over
there, the way he goes around butting
into strangers. He does that way be-
cause he's All the time looking down
at his new patent leather shoes-frst
pair he ever had. He'll be plumb
stoop-shouldered if he don't hurry up
and get the new kicked off of 'em. I'll
have to get him nice warm boX-stall
in some place that amt so much on
the band-wagon as this one. The cell
ings here are too high fur Billy. And
/ found him shootin' craps with the
bell boy this mornin'. The boy thinks
Billy, bein' from the west, is a stage
robber, or soMethin' like ne reads
about in the Cap Collier libr'ries, and
follows him around every chance he
gets. And Billy laps up too many of
them little striped drinks; and them
French-cooked dishes amt so good fur
him, either. He caught on to the bill
of fare right away. Now he won't or
der anything but them allas-them
dishes that has "a la something or
other after en-" he explained, when
Percival looked puzzled. "He knows
they'Il always be something ali fused
up with red, white and blue gravy, and
a,k
never knew Billy was such fancy
eater before"
So Uncle Peter and his charge had
established themselves in an old-fash-
toned but very comfortable hotel down
on one of the squares, dingy monu-
ment to the time when life had been
less hurried. Uncle Peter had stayed
there 80 years before, and he found the
place unchanged The carpets and
rooms were generously broad, the
chairs, as the old man remarked, were
''made to sit in" and the cuisine was
held, by few knowing old epleures
who still frequented the place, to be
superior even to that of the more pre-
Ientious Hightower. The service, it is
true, was apt TO be slow. Strangers
Nho CHANGED In to order a meal not
Subsequently became enraged, and left
before their food came, trailing plain
Snort words of extreme dissatisfaction
behind them as they went But the
elect knew that these delays betokened
tho presence OF an artistic conscience
In the kitchen, and that the food was
worth tarrying for They know how
70 make you come back hungry for
some more the next day" said Uncle
Petet Bines.
FIn1u this headquarters the old man
went forth to join In the diversions of
hts grandson And here he kept
watchsal eye upon the uncertain Billy
prue' Mt least approximately. Be
tween shem, his days and nights were
occupied to crowding. But Uncle Pc
ter had already put in some hard win
tsrs, and was not wanting In fortitude.
Billy Brue was a sore trouble TO the
old man. 4 jest can't keep him on
tho streets nights" was his chief COM