The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-01-18

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
lex q. ssekes Company
a. Buck. his voice vibrant. .-If IT'S
those you want, you can
Snap! went the electric switch un.
der Emma McChesney's fingers. II
was as decisive as q blow In the face,
She walked to the door. The little
room was dim.
TIM sending my boy through col.
lege with my sealskil.and:sable fund.-"
she said crisply; .and In, to meetEhim
at $780,
"oh. that's your appointment" Re.
lief was evident in T. A. Bucks tone.
Emma Mcchesney shook q despair.
ing head: For impudent and I'M.
quenchable tnquisitiyeness commend
me to a man! Here! II you must
know. though i intended It as a sur.
prise when 1t was finished and fur.
nished-r'm going to rent a fiat, a reg.
ular lstx:room, plenty-of-closets fiat, az.
ter ten years of miserable hotel exist.
ence. Jocks running over for two
days to approve 1t. I ought to have
waited until the holidays, SO he
wouldn't miss classes; but I couldn't
bear to. I've spent ten Thankssiv.
tngs, and ten Christmases, and ten
New Years In hotels. Hell has no
terrors for me-"
They were walking down the CORR.
dor together.
Take me along-please!" pleaded
7. A. Buck, like q boy. Il know all
about flats, and gas stoves, and me.
tiers, and plumbing, and everythlng!.
"You!" scotfed Emma McChesney,
with your tiye.story house and your
summer home in the mountains!"
Mother won'tlhea Of giving up,the
house. | hate It myself. Bathrooms
in those darned old barracks are SO
cold that a hot tub is an icy plunge
before you get to IT. They had
reached the elevator. A stubborn
look appeared about 7. a. Bucks
Jaw. I'm gotng!" he announced, and
scudded down the hall to his office
door. Emma Mcchesney pressed the
elevator button. Before the ascending
car showed a glow oflighttin the SHAFT
7. "A. Buck appeared with hat, gloves.
stick.
Think the cars down stairs. Well.
run up in it. What's tho address?
Seventies, l s%uppose?"
Emma McChesney stepped out OF,
the elevator and turned. Car! Not
1! II you're bound to come with me.
you'll take the subway. They're ask.
ing enough for that apartment as It
is. ! don't intend to drive up in a
fve.thousand.dollar m~otoratand have
tho agent tack on an extra twenty dol.
lars a month";
T. a. Buck smiled with engaging
agreeabl.ness. Subway It Is" he
said. Your presence would turn even
a Bronx train into a o garden"
Twelve minutes later the new apart.
ment building with It's cream tile and
red brick Louis Something facade,
and tan brick and plaster Michael.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. back, doomed
before them, soaring even above It's
lofty neighbors. On the door step
stood a m~aple-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 oalten
table. There were rugs, there were
hangings, there were dim.shaded
lamps casting a 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 leayen
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 T..
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.
be unlocked the apartment door and
threw 1t open with a gesture which
was q miraculous mixture Of royalty
and generosity.
He knows you'll" Kissed Emma Nc.
Chesney. entering with T.. "A. "An.
other ten on the rent" The agent
pulled up . shade. switched on a,light,
Strengthened an electric globe. I. a.
Buck looked about at the bare white
walls, at the bare polished floor, at
the severe fireplace.
Il knew 1t couldn't last he said.
III it did" replied Emma McChes-
ney good.naturedly. Il 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 is the way Of agents from Fftieth