Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-03

q Bremen! Vel, this is good!''
1T was Saturday night-the married g drummer So
homesick night. Mr.. Martin Prescott, walking
into the long narrow hotel bedroom felt
- than ever the wearing familiarity of the
that met his eye There were the same dull
carpet the Michigan pine furniture, the drab striped
wallpaper, the windows shaded only by little Slated
inside shutters, to which he used in third-rate
towns There was even the same indefnable chill
dusty smell that associated with evenings of
figuring over sales the cOyeress table, under the
weak sngl armed gas burner that jutted out from
the wall at the side of the bureau.
But tonight he had a matter on his mind that COM
panied him whether he would no, and he was sore
at having to stay in this little town, from which
there egress only. in twenty-four hours He
had waited for customer who did not arrive in the
place until too late for him to get out of it, and had
hereby missed the letter from his wife which was wait
ing for him some hundred miles further westward
Prescott did not in way, dislike travelling as bus
ness; his wife always comforted herself with the
thought that there other modes of earning
living inherently disagreeable to him, yet there
days and nights of a paucity which he was glad
she could not picture.
He made his preparations for the evening with the
wontedness of custom He locked the door, turned up
the gas, and worked the screw in the lukewarm
radiator. Then he drew the cane bottomed rocking
chair underneath the gas burner, and placed couple
of magazines the bureau beside him, his lean,
bearded face reflected in the shadOwy mirror above it.
lie opened his vase and took from it folding leather
photograph case containing the picture of woman
and three children. Prescott gazed at it hard for
few moments before standing it up beside the maya
zines He trying to find answer to the ques-
tion he was debating: if he could manage in some way
to supplement by three hundred dollars more the in
come of a new position offered him. he might be able
to accept it and stay at home for ever
He lit his pipe, and, putting his heavily booted feet
on chair began to cut the leaves of magazine with
his pocketknife He had meant to get his slippers out
of the bag and make himself comfortable but some
how after looking at the photographs, he had forgot
ten about himself He had written his daily letter to
his wife before the lastgoing train and he would not
begin fresh sheet nOw-no matter what he wrote,
she would divine his mood You have to be very care
full what you write in letter that is read days
after lest you cloud the sunshine for another when it
has frightened again for you.
''What is it2''
He sprang up as a knock came to the door, after
first hastily sweeping the photograph case into the
valise He hoped devouty that it was not visitor;
there was no one in this town whose presence would
not be an intrusion tonight But he gave glad start
of surprise as his eyes fell the man standing with
the bell boy in the hall.
''Brenneri Well, this is goodl I never dreamed
of seeing you here.'
''I don It wonder,' said the stranger, pleasant,
fresh-faced, broad-shouldered young fellow, with
light mustache. 90 s ages since set eyes you;
changed my route and then, two years ago, married
We only moved here last spring. Jim Halliday told
me this afternoon that you in town. What
soak he isl But don t let s waste time here; l want
you to right around and spend the evening at
our house | want you to meet my wife. "
'In be delighted said Prescott with alacrity.
He locked the bedroom door and the two walked out
together, conversing brsky they went. He and
the younger Bremen had been chance companions on