The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-05-31
HOME AGAIN.

glossy, bright, yellow side, just as it had
been dropped, with the more familiar scuff-
ed family 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. Parkin Jones
himself was pinned in the faded Morris
chair with the comfortably broken springs
by young Parkin and Lauretta, who were
crumpling all shape out of his smart new
suit. Baby Jones was gnawing at the ex-
tended tip of his patent leather shoe, un-
regarded by his fond mother, who, flushed
with the glow of the recklessly haring gas
log, sat at Jones feet with one plump
hand on an unoccupied part of his knee.
''You looked so grand coming along we
hardly knew you, said Mrs. Jones, with
loving little pat on the burdened knee
Jones smiled complacently. "Pretty
swell guy, amt I?'' he said. couch !!
How many new teeth has that infant ac-
cumulated since I've been gone? Quit it,
you skee zicks What makes him SO fond
of shoes, | wonder"
"It's the backing explained young
Jones. ''It's got sweet in it. l tasted
it,
II knowded you, papa" said Lauretta,
burrowing into his shoulder with her curly
head. 81 knowded you dess We moment
saw you.
''Did you, sweetness p asked Jones,
hugging her. "Well, tell me what s been
happening, mother"
"There's three new puppies over at
-" began the boy.
"Hush = said his mother, raising a
warning finger. "Let your papa talk
My nobody can get word in edgeways
You We got to tell first, father. Tell us all
about everything"
''Tell us p begged the chorus.
Cant you wait p asked Jones
AREN'T you going to give me time to get
my breath p
"No p was the shouted reply.
Every we'll, them said Jones. 81
started last Monday week, went away,
away off to Pittsburg and got safely back
home FIVE minutes ago. Now tell me
about the puppies, son.
"There' three of them"
" 'Des as cute p added Loretta.
''Children p said Mrs Jones. "Wait
now. Well hear all about the puppies
later on. want to hear what your mag
nifcent father has been doing with him
self. have my suspicious.
Tonos D;nobad bar obaaL
"Tell me, dear, did everything go all
right p
"Smooth as velvet" replied Jones.
"There wasn't any work to it-hardly.
1t was just pleasure jaunt-regularj junket
the whole time. Private car going down.
''What p calculated Mrs. Jones.
"That's what I'm telling you. Why,
what do you think? Do you suppose that
the great and only Burmerly was going to
travel like ordinary mortals in just COM
mon ordinary Pullman? Well, I guess
not. 1 hardly think he would have re-
quested Parkin Jones, esquire, to give him
the pleasure of his company if he hadn
been prepared to do the thing in the style
to which the Honorable Parkin Jones has
been accustomed"
Jones chuckled at this joke and Mrs.
Jones joined heartily. The children went
into shouts of laughter, whereat Jones and
Mrs. Jones laughed the more.
private car, resumed Jones; "private
cook, private porter and Burmerly's own
private vallay.'
"'Was he nice to you?'' asked Mrs.
Jones, rather anxiously.
"The vallay?' Well, yes, considering
his position. He unbended quite little. "
"Goose I! 1 mean Mr.. Burmerly."
Treated me like prince. hadn' t
any idea he could be so nice. He's all
right, for all that hang -you-don' t-care-to-
presume 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
say l never knew there were such
steaks. And I ate right with his imperial
nibs. -
81 should think you did p said Mrs.
Jones, with flash in her pretty dark eyes.
s'The idea p
II didn't know but he'd give me a
handout on the rear platform, said Jones,
ioeularly. "And l met all manner of
magnates.
"Tm so glad you got that suit, !" mur-
INJURED Mrs. Jones.
''It did happen pretty well, didn't it.?
Made me feel good, too. Two hours to
get ready wasn't much notice, eh?''
'I should think not. Then you think
he liked.-'
"I know he did. As I say, there
WASH much work to do, take it all round;
but once or twice 1 had to hustle. The
old gentleman fend for setting pace,
but when we got through he gave quite
successful imitation of a smile. we
cleaned that up in pretty good shape, he
says Jones, how long have you been
with us? And when I told him he says,
'Hah + and looked thoughtful. Another
time he said Il don't seem to miss
Ridgely at all
"Really p
"Honest And when we met Gibbuns
at Hookerburg, he introduced me as if I
had been an old friend of his and began to
talk business right away. Gibbuns raised
his eyebrows and sort of looked at me and
Burmerly said, You can talk before Mr..
Jones. You see I'm Burmerly's con-
fidential man."
"You ought to have said, Yes I'm paid
we'll to be trusted-$25 a week. -
81 know that's what I should have
said," said Jones, smiling. "But I have
foolish streak once in while; just
kept my head closed. But I have what
is known as hunch.''
'Papa," said Jones, junior, "thoss
puppies"