The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-18

1t was the landlady herself who an
swered the ring, and when she under
stood that he was in search of tenn
porary home the frozen look she hao
put on for the benefit of a canvasser
was replaced by a smile that she trieo
her best to make appear notherly-
Il think 1 understand you" she said
with a friendly nod. You are looking
for place which will extend the com
forts of home and you have come to the
right house. You are used to GOOD
bed and dainty table, and you desire
to meet congenia1 people around the
festive board"
Exactly, ma'am, and Providence
seems to have guided my footsteps !
am sure we shall get along famously. L
NAV send my trunk over during the
day and be here for dinner. What are
your figures %
For an elegant front room, newly
papered and with running water ana
plenty of heat-for this room and my
luxurious table, 1 must ask you s1z
per week 1 could have got SIS yester-
day, but 1 didn't like the looks OF the
man. He looked to me like what they
call a kicker 1 have never had one
of my boarders find a word or 1auit
yet We are the same as family, you
know, and many of US call each otner
by our given names. 1t will be the
same as adopting you into tender-
hearted Christian family. You don
look like a fault-hnder
Il hope not. ma am"
"And instead of great hunks of corn
beef you prefer dainties at table?
Exactly Your terms are all rlgnt'
and 1 think I'll join the family.
He was just in time for dinner. For
an hour past he had been thinking OF
oyster soup, porterhouse steak, french
fried potatoes and Mocha coffee ana
he sat down with an appetite. soup
was brought him. 1t was thln soup
was watery soup; it was soup tnat
tasted like nothing in particular he
sipped a spoonful and glared around
him at the family and realized that
he was in for a row. There was stsd-
but it was not porterhouse; there WerS
mashed potatoes, but they We're iutI
of I,1r,ps Mr. Bowser chewed AT ms
lot a moment. tasted of the potatoes
and then leaned back in his chair Had
Nrs Rovser been there she would nave
felt the earth trembling. and hasteneu
to prevent a calamity, OUT the IAN
lacy saw no signs When sne sd" nc
MI Bowser did not eat, she tenderly
said:
~ suppose. poor man, you are
thinking of the wife who is far away,
and so you have no appetite
Madam, is this what you were
pleased to term your FESTIVE Doaro
he oueried in reply as he waved his
hand over the table.
us ANYTHING wrong?"
He was about to reply that there
was. and to give. particulars, when
the family froze him into silence
with their looks. There were IL of
them and they were "ag1 MIN TO
the last one. Realizing the situa-
too. he rose up calmly as possible,
left the room and went up to the
newIy-paper room with southern ex-
posture. The Iandlady followed him.
1t was her duty as the head of the
family and a motherly woman to
comfort the disconsolate-
You and your wife haven't been
parted very often. take it ?" she said
as Mr.. Bowser opened the door to her.
Look here, woman, what kind OF
hash-house do you call this2" he
demanded as he turned to her and
instictively looked around for the cat
.Siri Sir. Is it possible that you
are speaking to me2" she demanded
fsOf course 1 am Do you expect
that man who has ever had home
of his own can put up with such fod-
der as was placed before me? That