The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-12-16


Will Bigelow was doing behind tie
desk, lulled by the sound of Hi Nuts
voice In the barroom as he explained
to all and sundry just how he had In
advertently permitted Watty the tailor
to best him al checkers that morning;
otherwise the office was deserted.
Tracey Weakened Will by stamping
heavily across the floor. and Will me.
chanically pushed down his spectacles
and dipped a pen in ink. Slowing the
register round for the guests sigma
ture. He says he knew at glance
that the mysterious stranger was no
travelling man. But this is moot
point. Tracey's memory being minute
ly accurate and at variance with
Wills assertion.
The mysterious stranger was
young man. rather severely clothed in
a dark suit which excited no interest
I'm Bigelow's understanding. although
/, when saw him later, had no diff.
Guilty In realizing that 1t had never
been made by tailor whose place of
business was more than five doors re-
moved from Fifth avenue. He was
tailish, but not really tall. and carried
himself with slight stoop which took
away from his real height. Tracey
says he had way Of looking at you
as II he was smiling inside ut some
joke he'd heard long time ago, and
/ don't know but that's fairly apt
description Of his ordinary expression.
lie had way, too. of nodding jerkily
at you-just once-to show lie recog-
nized you or understood what you
were driving at; at other times he
carried his head trifle to one side
and slightly forward. He was a man
you wouldn't forget. somehow, though
what there was about him that was
remarkable nobody seemed to know.
He nodded that jerky way in an
swer to Will Bigelow's "G'devenin',"
and without saying anything took the
pen and started to register. He had
to stop, however, for Tracey was
pressing him so close upon the right
that he couldn't get any play for his
elbow. and after minute or two he
asked Tracey politely would he mind
stepping round to the left. where he
could see just as we'll So Tracey did
Then he wrote his name in good
round hand, Nathaniel Duncan,
N. Y"
I'D like room with BATH" he
told VIII. something simple and
chaste, within the means of man in
moderate circumstances"
VIII thought he was joking at first, |
but he didn't smile, so Will explained |
that there was bathroom on the |
third floor ut the end OF the hall. |
though there wasn't much call for it.
81 could give you n room next to
that" he said, "but you wouldn't want |
1t, guess"
"Why not?" asked the mysterious
stranger.
Because" said Will. "'taint near
the sample ROOM"
THAT doesn't make any difference.
I'm on the wagon"
The only sehse Will could get out of
that was that the young man was trav-
cling for buggy house and hadn't
brought any samples with him. II
thought" he allowed, las how you'd
be wantin' place TO display your
samples, but of course if you're in the
wagon business
oh" said Mr.. Duncan, II thought
you meant tho sample room over
there" He nodded toward the bar
That's what you call the dispensaries
of intoxicating liquors in this part of
the country. is it notT
Will made q noise resembling an af
frmative and as soon as he got his
breath explained that travelling men
wanted sort Of q show
room next to theirs and that that was \
called a sample room too.
But I'm not travelling man." said
the mysterious stranger. $50 l shall
have as little use for the one as the
other"
"Then the room on the third floor'll
do for you." said VIII. How long do
you calculate on stayin'?"
"That will depend" said Mr.. Dun
can, "a day or so, perhaps longer, un-
til can find comfortable and more
permanent quarters"
In his amazement Will jabbed the
pen so hard into the potato beside the
ink well that he never could get the
nib out and had to buy a new one.
"You don't mean to say you're thinkin'
of coming here to liver" he gasped.
Eyes, i do" said the young man
apologetically. II don't think you'll
find me In the way. shall be very
quiet and unobtrusive. I'm a student
looking Tor quiet place In which to
pursue my studies"
"Well," said Will. you've found It.
all right. There amt no quieter place in
than Radville, Mr.. Dun
IAN. hope you'll like It," he said, sar-
castle.
II shall endeavor to-" said the young
man. "And now may go to my room,
please? i should like to renovate my
travel stained person to some extent
before dinner"
You'll have time," said VIII. "Din-
ler's at noon tomorrow. guess you're
,hinkin' about supper. That's ready
now. Here, Tracey, you carry this
yentleman's things up to No. 49,"