The Washington herald., 1913-10-24

gotten the potatoes.
Il am sorry" she said. as they sat
down to the meal.
'.Humphw was the sullxy reply.
These things viii happen now and
then. and nobody's to blame for It,"
"Humph?'
you shall have an extra good din
ner tomorrow to pay for it."
"Humphp"
That was the extent of the conver-
| sation at the table. 1t was when they
had finished the meal and reached the
sitting room that Mr.. Bowser asked:
Have I got a wife, or haven't I?'
you have" was replied.
Have I got home, or haven't I?''
You have"
"Am I expected to sit down to a
picked-up. mixed-up, wopsed-up meal,
! or to have something Mt to eat?"
Il explained how it came about. 1t
| may never happen again."
But can't eat explanations, Mrs.
Bowser; this house is run like a log
ging camp"
II deny it. 1t is run as good as
any house IN the State"
There are boarding-houses where
they have better cooking"
you know nothing about It."
And where they have more palat-
able meals"
Then why don't you try one?'
I'm thinking Of it mighty seriously"
81 wouldn't think no more: I'd go
right on and find the place!"
You know who~you are talking to.
do your he demanded. rather taken
aback by her readiness to see him go.
|, Il do. sir. There is no occasion to
quarrel. You are signing for the
matchless meals OF clearinghouse.
fn- 90
week II you want tor
You mean that, do your"
Il surely do. II you are dissatisfied
here the thing to do Is to get out"
BY thunder, I will?'
That's the way to TAX" said Mrs.
Bowser. IT can get along fine without
you"
"oh, you can Then III start out in
the morning and look for a place"
81 shall wish you every luck. II you
have any rows with the landladies, you
won't-won't let them get into the
papers?''
What will I have rows about?' he IN
Docently queried. ''The room, the bed
and the cooking will be all right, and
thele'I be no occasion for any hard
words"
Half an hour later. however, he weak
ened enough to say that he was sorry
for the cook.
In half an hour he said that he didn't
expect things to always go smooth
around the house.
Just before going to bed he remarked
that he knew a man who hanged HIM
self because he had TO live in a boarding
house.
Mrs Bowser made no answer. He had
the nightmare during the night, but she
did not arouse him. At breakfast he tried
to joke with her, but as the meal ended
she said:
"Are you going to have your trunk
called for during the day?'
''My-my trunk?'
Yes. You are going to try boarding
house, you know"
His Jaw fell and his face went blank,
but after a minute he braced up and
answered:
Il may leave the trunk here for a day
or two. I'll take myself of now, so as
not to be in your way
Mr.. Bowser lost no time in looking out
for quarters. He knew Of a score OF
boarding houses not too far away, and
within an hour he was pulling the bell
at the top Of flight of steps. 1t was
the landlady herself who answered the
ring, and when she understood that he
was in search of a temporary home the
frozen look she had put on for the benefit
of a canvasser was replaced by a smile
that she tried her best to make appear
motherly.
81 think I understand you,r' she said,
with friendly nod. You are looking
for a place which will extend the COM
forts Of home, and you have came to the
right house. You are used to a good
bed and dainty table. and you desire
to meet congeniaI people around the
festive board"
Exactly, madam, ard Providence
seems to have guided my footsteps II
am sure we shall get along famously. II