Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-01-04

talliSh, but not really tall. and carried
himself with u slight stoop which took
away from his real height. Tracey
says he had Il way Of looking at you
as If he was smiling inside at some
joke he'd heard long time ago, and
! don't know but that's fairly apt
description of his ordinary expression
He had way. too. Of nodding jerkily
at you-just once-to show he recog.
nized you or understood what you
were driving at: at other times he
carried his head a trihe 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 50 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 be
could see just as well. So Tracey did.
Then he wrote his name in good
round hand. Nathaniel Duncan.
n. Y"
I'D like a room with bath.' he
told Will. "something simple and
chaste. within the. means of a man in
mod 70 oiro,,
Will thought be was joking at first,
but he didn't smile, so Will explained
that there was bathroom on the
third floor at the end Of the hall.
though there wasn't much call for it.
Il could give you a room next to
that" he said. but you wouldn't want
it, guess"
"Why aoty" 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 sense 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. Il
thought" he allowed, las how you'd
be wantin' a place to display your
samples. but of course If you're in the
wagon business
"Oh." said Mr.. Duncan. II thought
you. meant the 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 not?'
Will made a noise resembling an az
firmative and as soon as he got his
breath explained that travelling men
generally wanted sort of a 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 floorll
do for you" said VIII How long do
you calculate on staying"
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 u new one.
You don't mean to say you're thinkin'
of coming here to liver he gasped.
Yes. do" said the young man
alphabetically. Il don't think you'll
quiet and unobtrusive. I'm student
looking for quiet place IN which to
pursue my studies
"Weii." said Will. you've found it,
all right There amt no quieter place in
Pennsylvania than Radville, Mr.. Dun
can. hope you'll like it," he said. sar.
castle.
Il shall endeavor to-" said the young
man. And now may 60 to my room.
please: | should like to renevate my
travel stained person to some extent
before dinner, ~,
you'll have time," said VIII. 'Din-
ner's at noon tomorrow. guess you're
thinkin' about supper. That's ready
now. Here. Tracey. you carry this
gentleman's things up to No. 49,
l have never been able to under
stand how we failed to hear of it at
Miss Carpenters befor. 4 O'clock.
That was the hour whtn. having fin
tshed supper and my first evening pipe,
l started down town to the Citizen Of
flee. intending to stop in at the Bige-
low House on the way and confound
Will with the list Of the days happen
ings. Main street was pretty well
crowded for that hour. remembered
noticing, and most of the townsfolk
were grouped together on the corners
underneath the lamps. discussing
something rather excitedly. paid nc
particular attention. realizing that be-
tween Caesar. Pete Willing. Roland
Burnette's suit and the checker game
they had enough to talk about. So II
wasn't until walked into the Bigelow
House Office that either heard or saw
anything Of the mysterious stranger.
Will Bigelow was In his usual place
behind the desk and looked. thought
rather disgruntled. His reply to my
"Howdy. Will?'' sounded somewhat
snappish.. But he got out Of his chat,
and moved round the end of the desk
just as the young man came out Of the
dining room door. Then viii. pulled
up. and realized that he was: calm.
my attention to the stranger.
-
Will grabbed my arm without say
ing anything and pulled me into tn.
bar.
"Hello!' I said as he went roun(
| hohind and ononod tho aino. I a q.