The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-05-08
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valise, between the dining table and
the wall, in defiance of all rules of
order. Parkin Jones new derby
hat reposed on the table cloth. Par
kin Jones himself was pinned in the
Faded Morris chair with the comfort
ably broken springs by young Parkin
and Lauretta, who we're c%rumpling
sall shape out of his smart new suit.
Baby Jones was gnawing at the ex-
tended tip of his patent-leather shoe,
Junregarded by his fond mother, who,
flushed with the glow of the reckless
ly faring gas log, sat at Jones feet
with one plump hand on an unoccu-
pied part of his knee.
"You looked so grand coming along
we hardly knew you," said Mrs.
Jones, with a loving little pat or the
burdened knee.
Jones smiled complacently. "Pret-
ty swell guy, amt II" he said.
"Ouch! How many new teeth has
that infant accumulated since I've
been gone? Quit it, you skee zicks!
/ What makes him so fond of shoes,
7 wonder"
Its the backing" explained
young Jones. It's got sweet in it.
] tasted it."
II knowded you, papa" said Lau-
retta, Hburrowing into his shoulder
with her curly head. 81 knowded
you dess We moment I saw you"
Did you, sweetness" asked Jones
hugging her. We'll, tell me what's
been happening, mother"
There's three new puppies over
Sat" began the boy.
Hush" said his mother, raising
a warning finger. LET your papa
talk. My! nobody can get a word
in edgeways. You've got to tell first,
father. Tell us all about every
thing"
Tell u.s." begged the chorus.
Cant you waltz" asked Jones.
"Aren't you going to- give me time
to get my BREATH"
moi" was the shouted reply.
Every we'll, then" said Jones. 81
started last Monday week, went
away, away of to Pittsburg and got
safely back home five minutes ago.
Now tell me about the puppies, SON."
There's three of them
"'Des as cute!" added Lauretta.
"Children!" said Mrs. Jones.
"Wait now. Well hear all about the
puppies later on. I want to hear
what your magnificent father has
been doing with himself. 1 have my
suspicious"
Jones pinched her cheek.
Tell me, dear, did everything go
all right?"
Smooth as velvet" replied Jones.
"There wasn't any work to it-hard-
~. It was just a pleasure jaunt-
regular junket the whole time. Pri-
vate car going down"
: What" calculated Mrs. Jones.
That's what I'm telling you.
Why, what do you think? Do you
suppose that the great and only Bur-
merly was going to travel like ordi-
nary mortals in just a common ordi-
nary Pullman? Well, 1 guess not.
I hardly think he would have re-
quested Parkin Jones, esquire, to
give him the pleasure of his company
II he hadn't been prepared to do the
thing in the style to which the Hon
orable Parkin Jones has been accus-
toned"
Jones chuckled at this joke and
Mrs. Jones joined heartily. The chill
dren went into shouts of laughter,
whereat Jones and Mrs. Jones
laughed the more.
Private car" resumed Jones;
'priyate cook, private porter and
Burmerly's own private v~allay."
"Was he nice to you?" asked Mrs.
Jones, rather anxiously.
1.-THE vallay? Well, yes, consid-
ering his position. He unbended
quite a little"
"Goose! 1 mean Mr.. Burmerly."
Treated me like a prince. I
hadn't any idea he could be so nice.
He's all right, for all that hang-you-
acknowledgements way he's got.
Once or twice he was almost jolly.
Yes, it was anything you want, touch
!: the button and the meals we got on
that trip! Whew! Game, fish,
steaks three inches thick, and-sayi
I never knew there were such steaks.
And I ate right with his imperial
nibs."
81 should think you did" said
Mrs. Jones, with a fash in her pretty
dark eyes. 1.-The ideal"
"I didn't know but he'd give me
a handout on the ear platform"
said Jones, jocularly. And I met
all manner of magnates."
I'm so glad you got that suit"
murmured Mrs. Jones.
1T did happen pretty well, didn't
it? Made me feel good, too. Two
hours to get ready wasn't much no.
tice, eh?"
I should think not. Then you
think he liked"
Il know he did. AS I say, there
wasn't much work to do, take it all
round; but once or twice 1 had to
hustle. The old g~entleman's a fend
for setting q pace, but when we got
through he gave quite a successful
limitation of a smile. We cleaned
that up in pretty good shape he
says. Jones, how long have you
been with u.s.. And when I told him