Putnam patriot., 1915-06-04

lick the shine off your shoes.' fore he gets here. He's been out with L. just four days. Those four days have been a revelation, an eye-opener, and a series of rude jolts. He used to think that his mothers job consisted of travelling in Pullmans, eating deli cate viands turned out by the hotel chefs, and strewing Featherloom pet ticoats along the path. l gave him plenty of money, and he got into the habit of looking lightly upon anything more trifiing than a five-dollar bill. He's changing his mind by great leaps. I'm prepared to spend the night in the coal cellar if you'll just fix him up not too comfortably. It'll be a great lesson for him. There he is now. Just coming in. Fuzzy coat and hat and English stick. Hist! As they say on the stage"
 The boy crossed the crowded lobby. There was little worried, annoyed frown between his eyes He laid a protecting hand on his mothers arm. Emma McChesney was conscious of little thrill of pride as she realized that he did not have to look up to meet her gaze.
 Lock here, mother, they tell me the-e's some sort of a convention here, and the towns packed That's what all those banners and things were for. hope they've got something decent for us here. l came up with man who said he didn't think there was a hole left to sleep in"
 You don't say!9 exclaimed Emma MeChesney, and turned to the clerk. This is my son, Jock McChesney- MT Sims. Is this true?"
 Glad to know you, sir" said MT. Sims Why, yes, I'm afraid we are pretty well filled up, but seeing it's you maybe we can do something for you"
 He ruminated. tapping his teeth with a penholder, and eying the pair before him with a maddening blank ness of gaze. Finally:
 I'll do my best, but you can't ex- pect much. I guess I can squeeze another cot into eighty-seven for the young man. Theres-let's see now who's in eighty-seven? Well, there's two Bisons in the double bed, and one in the single, and Fat Ed Meyers in the cot and"
 Emma McChesney stiffened into acute attention. Meyers? ?" she inter- rupted. Do you mean Ed Meyers of the Strauss Sans-silk Skirt company"
 That's so. You two are in the same line aren't you? He's a great little piano player, Ed is. Ever hear him play?"
 When did he get in?"
 "Oh, he just came in fifteen minutes ago on the Ashland division. He's in at supper"
 Oh said Emma McChesney. The two letters breathed relief.
 But relief had no place in the voice, or on the countenance of Jock McChes- ney. He bristled with belligerence This cattle-car style of sleeping don't make hit. I haven't had a decent nights rest for three nights. I never could sleep on a sleeper Can't you fix us up better than that?"
 Best can do."
 But where's mother going? I see you advertise three large and com modious steam-heated sample rooms in connection I suppose mothers due to sleep on one of the tables there"
 Jock" Emma McChesney reproved him, MT. Sims is doing us great favor. There isn't another hotel in town that would"
 You're right, there isn't" agreed Mir Sims. T guess the young man is new to this travelling game. As said. I'd like to accommodate you, but Let's see now. Tell you what I'll do. If I can get the housekeeper to go over and sleep in the maids quar- ters just for tonight, you can use her room. There you are, Of course. it's over the kitchen, and there may be some little noise early in the morn ing"
 Emma Mcehesney raised a protest ing hand Don't mention it. Just lead me thither. I'm so tired ] could sleep in an excursion special that was switching at Pittsburgh. Jock. me child. we're in luck That's twice in the same place. The first time was when we were inspired 10 eat our supper on the diner instead of wait ing until we reached here to take the leftovers from the Bisons' grazing. I hopa that housekeeper hasn't pic ture of her departed husband dan gling, life-size, on the wall at the foot of the bed. But they always have