The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-04-23

/ and warmth within. The landlady,
Mrs. Kirby, an old friend, must have
heard them coming, for, as they were
making their way to the door, there
came the sound of bolts drawn back,
the door was flung open, and the fig.
ure Of the plump, smiling pleasant.
looking landlady appeared on the
| threshold to welcome them, silhouet.
ted against the glow within.
'Well, here you are-better late
than never!" she cried, as she shook
hands with half a dozen of the new
Corners almost simultaneously.
For goodness sake, don't let the
railway company hear you say that,
Mrs. Kirby!" cried Joe, as they bus
tied into the bar parlor, where q roar
ing fire greeted them, and the still
more alluring spectacle to a hungry
party of the supper table laid. Funny
people, railway companies! We were
only an hour late today on a journey
of thirty miles, but if they got it into
their heads that we liked it rather
than otherwise" and he gave an ex.
pressive shrug to finish the sentence.
well, I'll go and dish the supper
this very minute, for I'm sure you
must all be more than ready for it,
And Mrs. Kirby hustled off kitchen
wards, whilst the actors crowded
round the glowing fire, that threw
dancing lights On the old oak wains.
coting of the panelled walls and
cleaned on the snowy damask and
glass and cutlery.
glove, this is a bit of all right" OBJ.
served ice, taking the center of the
hearth rug. and looking round the
cosy room, hung with it's old yellowed
sporting prints. whats happened to
the ladies'? Titivating themselves up.
stairs, suppose. Tell girl she can
have two minutes before looking.
glass. and at the end of half an hour
it needs wild horses to drag her away.
Now, with man-but soft; scmo
che approaches" continued Joe, strik-
ing a meiodramatic attitude-for he
never ccu,d forget that he was a co.
r'edian by professionals the. ladies
OF TIE company came in. followed by
a sleepyeNed servant bringing q tray
laden with smoking hot savory dishes.
"Ch, it was too bad Of YOU to be so
long!' said a girl who had entered,
with a rather piquant!y pretty face
pretty enough to be an apple Of per.
Ectual discord in the company, with
the various members of which it
seemed to come natural to her to iirt
shamelessly-Peggy CAattcrton, the
managers daughter, doomed by her
fathers position to play lead, al.
though born soubrette. You must
have just craw!ed from the station,
although you knew we were dying for
our SUPPER
"And do you think we aren't fam.
ished too?" retorted Joe. ITO hear
you, one would think we had walked
from the station for the fun of it,!
You ride in comfort, you were here
toasting yourselves by roaring fire,
luxuriating in the delicious aroma of
what is it, by the way, Mrs. Kirby?
Steak and onions? Oh, rapture. like.
wise joy! Peggy, the sight of that
noble dish moves me to magnanimity.
You are forgiven. All care about now
is to grasp knife and fork-as on
one other memorable occasion Craig,
do you remember? Monty does, if
you don't!" with a laugh.
All the discomfort of the firing rail.
way journey and the long walk from
the station was forgotten; the players
sat down to do justice to the excel
lent supper of Mrs. Kirby's providing.
Mrs. Kirby sat down with them; Joe
led her with empressement to the ta-
BILE.
do have done with your nonsense,
Mr. Grisson," she said, smilingly. Joe
was favorite of hers; and probably
Joe would not have done with his non.
sense, had he not happened to look
up and see the managers wife, very
stately and clothed in massive gray
and the usual velvet and sequins, con.
templating him with stony eye. "I'm
glad to see you back in the company
Mr.. Grisson. On the last visit to the
town it didn't seem the same without
you!"
Ito Be Continued.)