The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-07-24

been q time when Miss Tapscott was a.
power in her small way, and her Sc
1ect boarding house. for young women
H1led to overlooking. while applicants
waited three deep for any chance va
cancy that might occur.
But the removal of the factory from
which she drew her clientele, and,
finally. the opening of bigger and
more up-to-date boarding houses
where they took young men as well as
young women. thing Miss Tapscott
would never do-had cut into her GUS
tom and clearly proved that not all
the delicious turnovers. pasttes. ETC..
OF which she was justly proud, were OF
the least avail against the charm of
nightly dances in the parlor with mas
culine partners. and landlady who
didn't care fg whether you were in
doors every night at o'clock or not
But IL her fortunes failed, her con-
science didn't, and she simply couldn't
bring herself to cut down expenses by
diminishing either the quality or the
quantity of the food she set before her
boarders; and as retrenchment had
to be made somewhere. she diminish
ed both the quality and the quantity
of her own instead. dismissed her
servant, took double work on her own
shoulders, and went on struggling and
pinching and starving and hoping and
never wholly lost heart until today.
well, / suppose I've got to face 1t.
whatever 1t be-" she said forlornly, as
she put the broom behind the door.
hung her apron upon its accustomed
peg, and spying a few crumbs under
the table. brushed them carefully up
and put them IN the coal scuttle.
1t was close on 10 o'clock when she
arrived at the far end of Lincoln's
afr
about the heart, opened the door ana
crept guiltily into the outer Offices OF
Messrs. Stetlow, Barnes & Burns
establishment, and made known her
business by extending the senior part
ner's letter and saying to the clerk
who came forward. I've come about
this. Be the gentlemen in. or hev'
come too early? It's worried mo e
good deal. and thought I'd better git
It over as soon as I could"
'rMr. Stetlow Is engaged just now.
but he'll see you presently. Would
you care to look at the morning pa
per while you are waiung
"I don't think I could read 1t IL
tried" admitted Miss Tapscott with
unconscious pathos. I'm too nerv-
Gus and upset. I'm afraid. suppose
you couldn't tell me whether it's Mr..
Sinks. the butcher. or Mr.. Havens,
the landlord. that's a-suin' could you?
1t 'u'd sorter relieve my mind to
know"
II haven't the faintest idea" replied
the clerk, with the calm indifference
of his kind. "Sit down, please. and as
soon as Mr.. Stetlow is disengaGed III
tell him you are here"
In a state of trembling nervousness.
Miss Tapscott sat down on the very
edge OF one of the big leather-covered
chairs, squeezed her hands together
hard, and waited. And SO she was
still sitting waiting when. at the ex-
piration of 20 minutes he came back
and ushered her into Mr.. Robert Stet-
lows presence.
He was large, sunny-faced, portly
man OF middle age. SO that she took
heart of grace, and fired the burning
question at him point-blank: BE it
Mr.. Sinks or Mr.. Ravens that's a.
sum- she inquired trembingly.
whichever 1t be, / don't know how
I'm goin' to pay 'em till times gifts bet
1nr: I don't indeed, Mr.. Stetlow. But
mebby It's both of 'em a-suin' togeth-
or? Is it3"
~Qutte to the contrary. my dear mad
um," responded Mr.. Stetlow cheerily.