New Britain herald., 1915-08-07

oeen tune when Miss Tapscott was a power in her small way, and her se- feet boarding house, for young women nlled to overfiowing, 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, nnally, the opening of bigger and more up-to-date boarding houses where they took young men as we'll as young women. thing Miss Tapscott would never do-had cut into her cus- tom and clearly proved that not all the delicious turnovers, pasties, etc., or 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 a fig whether you were in- doors every night at o'clock or not
 But if 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, I suppose I've got to face it, whatever 1t be-" she said forlornly, as ,she put the broom behind the door. hung her apron upon it's accustomed peg, and spying few crumbs under the table, brushed them carefully up and put them in the coal scuttle.
 It was close on 10 o'clock when she arrived at the far end of Lincoln's inn, and with a sinking sensation about the heart, opened the door and 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' l come too early? It's worried me good deal, and thought I'd better git it over as soon as could"
 "Mr. Stetlow is engaged just now, but he'll see you presently Would ' you care to look at the morning pa per while you are waiting?
 ''I don't think I could read it if I X tried" admitted Miss Tapscott with unconscious pathos. "I'm too nerv- ofls and upset. I'm afraid. I suppose you couldn't tell me whether it's MT. ! Sinks, the butcher, or MT. Havens, the landlord, that's a-suin' could you? It 'u'd sorter relieve my mind to know"
 T haven't the faintest idea," replied thc clerk, with the calm indifference zothis kind. "Sit down, please. and as soon as MT. Stetlow is disengaged I'll tell him you are here."
 In 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 MT. Robert Stet-
 lows presence.
 - He was a 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
 MT. Sinks or MT. Ravens that's a.
 suin?" she inquired tremblingly whichever 1t be. I don't know how I'm goin' to pay 'em till times gifts bet
 ter; I don't indeed, MT. Stetlow. Blu,
 mebby it's both of 'em a-suin' togeth.
 CT? Is it?"
 Quite to the contrary, my dear mad.
 um." responded Mir. Stetlow cheerily