Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1914-12-25
4 Business Adventure of Emma McChes,

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A. Buck. his voice vibrant. IF it's
those you want, you can"
Snap! went the electric switch I'M
der Emma McChesney's fingers. It
was as decisive as blow In the face.
She walked to the door. The little
room was dim.
I'm sending my boy through COL
lege with my sealskin-and-sabIe fund.-"
she said crisply; "and I'm to meet him
at 1890"
"oh, that's your appointment" Re-
lief was evident in T. A. Bucks tone.
Emma McChesney shook a despair
ing head. "For impudent and un-
quenchable inquisitiveness commend
me to man! Here! If you must
know, though intended it as q sur
prise when 1t was finished and fur
nished-I'm going to rent a fiat, reg
ular six-room, plenty-of-closets fiat, af-
ter ten years Of miserable hotel exist
ence. Jocks running over for two
days to approve 1t. ought to have
waited until the holidays, so he
wouldn't miss classes; but 1 couldn't
bear to. I've spent ten Thanksgiv-
ings. and ten Christmases, and ten
New Years in hotels. He'll has no
terrors for me-"
They were walking down the corri.
dor together.
Take me along-please!" pleaded
I. A. Buck. like boy. II know all
about fats. and gas stoves. and me-
tiers, and plumbing, and everything!"
"You!" scofted Emma McChesney,
with your five-story house and your
summer home in the mountains!"
Mother won't hear of giving up the
house. I hate 1t myself. Bathrooms
in those darned old barracks are SO
cold that hot tub Is an icy plunge
before you get to it." They had
reached the elevator. A stubborn
look appeared about T. A. Bucks
jaw. I'm going!" he announced, and
scudded down the hall to his Office
door. Emma McChesney pressed the
elevator button. Before the ascending
car showed glow of light in the shaft
T. A. Buck appeared with hat. gloves.
stick. IN
II think the cars down stairs. Wen
run up in 1t. What's the address?
Seventies. suppose?"
Emma McChesney stepped ont Of
the elevator and turned ''Cafess7sof
I! II you're bound to come whine
you'll take the subway. Tksy'rssyak.
ing enough for that apartment 40 II
is. don't intend tos1alrive up ms q
fve-thousand-dollar motor and have
the agent tack on an: extra twenty dol
lars month" ~ . ia
T. A. Buck smiled with engaging
agreeableness. Subway it u.s." he
said. 'Your presence would turn even
. Bronx train into rose garden"
Twelve minutes later the new apart
ment building with its cream tile and
red brick Louis Something facade,
and tan brick and plaster Michael.
Dougherty-contractor back, doomed
before them. soaring even above it's
lofty neighbors. On the door step
stood a maple-colored giant in a splen-
dor Of scarlet. and gold braid, and gilt
tering buttons. The great entrance
door was opened for them by a half.
portion duplicate of the giant outside.
In the foyer was splendor to grace a
palace hall. There were great carved
chairs. There was a massive oaken
table. There were rugs, there were
>hangings, there were dim.shaded
lamps casting soft glow upon tapes.
try and velours.
/ There approached them the agent,
smiling, urbane, pleasing as to man.
ner-but not too pleasing; urbanity
mixed, so to speak, with the leaven
Of caution.
"Ah. yes! Mrs.-er-McChesney,
wasn't It? I can't tell you how many
parties have been teasing me for that
apartment since you looked at it. I've
had to-well-make myself positively
unpleasant in order to hold it for you.
You said you wished your son to"
The glittering little jewel box Of an
elevator was taking them higher and
higher. The agent stared hard at +.
A. Buck.
Mrs. McChesney followed his gaze
my business associate. Mr.. T. A.
Buck" she said grimly.
The agent discarded caution; he
was all urbanity. Their floor attained,
he unlocked the apartment door and
threw 1t open with q gesture which
was miraculous mixture Of royalty
and generosity.
"He knows you!" Kissed Emma Nc.
Chesney. entering with T. A. IAN.
other ten on the rent" The agent
pulled up shade, switched on q light,
Strengthened an electric globe. T. A
Buck looked about at the bare white
walls, ct the bare polished floor, al
the severe fireplace.
i II knew 1t couldn't last" he said.
IF It did," replied Emma McChes
ney good-naturedly, II couldn't afford
to live here" and disappeared into the
kitchen followed by the agent, who
babbled ever and anon Of views, Of
Hudsons. Of express trains. Of parks
] as IL the way Of agents from Fiftiett