Mexico Missouri message., 1906-04-12

distractingly regular row of highly-re-
spectacle looking dwellings. "a board
Ing house." commented Mr.. Lamm, as
he leisurely looked at the windows on
his way up the steps. "No need Of a
sign to tell that fact"
In his suave inquiry regarding eligible
lodgings, the careworn landlady who
opened the door took an instant in
| terest. She liked the mans face, as she
confided an hour later to an intimate
friend in the millinery line, who CHANGED
to call.
I'VE have very good room back, up
one flight, sir; quite near the bath
room"
"Ah!" The caller seemed to be con-
| sidering. I'm quiet man of business,
you understand. No gay roysterers, no
noisy dodgers, no piano humping at
midnight, suppose?"
Dear, me, no, sir" the landIady as
sured him. Fact is, we're rather
empty now. Only two clerks, very nice.
steady young men, on the third floor,
and transient, "a lady, who occupies
the parlor bedroom, front, second
story"
she's not musicale"
Il think not, sir. She's not sung since
she came here. to my knowledge, d week
ago last Wednesday, l think it was
yes, am sure, for the man was sent
in to whiten the walls that day, ana
that is how came to remember it,"
Lady, transient, you say. Stranger,
then, Of Course?"
tits her first visit 20 Boston, she
tells me. She lives in New York, and
is here on little business. Settling up
an estate, think, though she's not said
so in just so many words"
"Ah! Well, in that case, she can't
have many friends to call en- her in the
evening, and chatter, chatter, giggle,
giggle for hours together?"
The landlady smiled and shook her
head. Lamm resumed, in a very friend
ly, oR-hand fashion:
You see, ma'am, | should be quite
near her room If ! concluded to come
here, and as I'm a quiet man and go
to bed early, / don't want to be kept
awake by late and noisy callers or any
other dodgers. That was the objection
at my last place, ma'am."
The landlady smoothed her apron
complacently. mo such difficulty here,
sir" she said, with confidence. why,
Nine. Raymond has only had one
caller since she's been here, and
don't know as you can call it a caller,
either, for he merely came home with
her the evening of the day after the
lady took the room here. Yes, 1t was
Thursday week, l noticed him with
her at the dAor when answered her
ring. 1t was after nine o'clock, and
had got worried about her, being a
stranger and so on, so that was glad
to see she had company. My brother
she said to me, and a nice appearing
gentleman he was / liked his face.
Well, he came Ia and had quiet talk
with the lady-a talk that you couldn't
hear an inch outside the room, and
couldn't possibly disturb anybody. Nine.
Raymond has been out once or twice,
but no one else has called on her, and
am sure that nothing she and the
brother could say, II he should come
to see her again, could possibly disturb
you, SIR"
Mr.. Lamm was very far indeed from
sharing this opinion Of the lady who so
desired his presence as a lodger. But
his face wore q look OF entire, unquali-
lied assent. He asked to see the much
commended apartment back, up one
flight" approved its arrangements, and
declared the price very reasonable.
But the best guarantee OF his satisfao-
uon was that he actually decided 10