Middletown transcript., 1908-05-23
A BUSINESS VENTURE
BY MATTE NJ. BoTELER

walked back TO the mouse.
| What's he count on doing here?
He cackilates on buying stock
about here, if he can get a place
to suit him.
The look on Nancy's face
seemed to indicate that this bit
of news was of more than ordi-
nary interest 10 her. However,
she made no further reference
to it.
I s'pose you'll come for them
pigs before feeding time, she
called anxiously after Sam, as
he quilted the yard.
| Seems to be sort Of breaking
away, she remarked awkwardly,
as she went into the kitchen.
There amt been nobody at the
post-office this week and I
wouldn't be surprised if there
| was a letter there from some of
Cousin Sallie's folks. l feel sort
of called to go down and see.
Mary Jane glanced keenly at
her mother, but, discreet young
woman that she was, made no
comment.
No, there were no letters from
Sallie Smiths folks, the post
master informed her. There
hain't been a letter from Ohio
this long time, only one that old
Miss Lankers got yesterday. 1t
must a been from Tom.
Mrs. Kalometer did not go d.
rectly home from the post-ofice,
but paused at an oldfashioned
frame house on the outskirts of
the struggling town. Tom Lisco,
himself, opened the door for her,
and, after a hearty greeting,
showed her into the sitting room.
I heerd you was talking of
renting a place, she began, COM
ing directly to the point, and |
dropped in to tell you that I think |
some of renting mine.
Good gracious, Mrs. Kalometer |
you don't say! |
Yes, I'm sick of farming.
You're going to try resting
awhile?
II cackilate goin' into bust
ness, in the boarding house line
down to st. Louis, bringing these
words out in an explosive fash
sion, as though startled at her
own boldness. Lisco gave a low
whistle.
Well, Mrs. Kalometer, if we
can agree on the figgers, I guess
your placed suit me well enough, |
he remarked, mentally averring |
that, with the close-isted old |
woman, this would not be an
eaSy matter, On the contrary,
however, Mrs. Kalometer, seemed
disposed to be liberal, and the
upshot of the matter was that,
when she left the house a half
hour later, the terms had been
agreed upon.
When it became known in Pike
vile neighborhood that Nancy
Kalometer was going to st. Louis,
great, indeed, was the excite
ment. This the good woman
seemed to enjoy, and with an air
of conscious superiority she an
swered or ignored, as pleased her
best, the questions of her curious
neighbors.
The first of April found herself
and Mary Jane established in q
dingy boarding house on Olive
street. To tell the truth, mat
ters had not yet assumed the
roseate hue of which Mrs. Kalo-
meter had dreamed. In the first
place, the uninviting aspect of
the house, together with the ex-
orbitant rent, had well-nigh ap-
palled her. But for the dread of
being laughed at she would have
given up the plan.
AS the warm weather advanced
patronage had grown lighter, and
the small fund they had brought
with them to the city was fast
disappearing. On this particular
morning, as she stood vainly try
ing to polish the battered wood
work, Nancy Kalometer acknowl-
edged to herself that she was a
thoroughly disappointed woman.
The bell tangled noisily, and a
minute later Mary Jane ushered
into the room a young man whom
Mrs. Kalometer recognized as
the manager of the real estate
Office on the corner. Could she
accommodate him with meals
during the heated term, he in
quired politely. He would wish
special service, and was willing
to pay special prices. Some Of
his meals he would take down.