Putnam patriot., 1915-07-02
By EDNA FERBER Auihor of ''Dsan 0Iara 'Butered Side Doua, ' ese

ircle0 heF ShouioerS
 Emma groped for it back of her pa- per and showed it across the table without looking up.
 and the Worcester"
 One eye on the absorbing column. she passed the tall bottle. But at it's removal her prop was gone. The Dry Goods Review was too weighty for the salt shaker alone.
 and the salt. Thanks. Warm, isn't it?'
 There was a double vertical frown between Emma McChesney's eyes as she glanced up over the top of her Dry Goods Review. The frown gave way to a half smile The glance set tied into stare.
 But then, anybody would have stared. He expected it." she said, aft erwards, in telling about it. I've seen matinee idols, and tailors' supplies salesmen, and Julian Eltinge, but this boy had any male professional beauty l ever saw, looking as handsome and dashing as a bowl of cold oatmeal. And he knew it.
 Now, in the ten years that she had been out representing T. A. Bucks featherloom petticoats, Emma MeChes- ney had found it necessary to make a rule or two for herself In the strict observance of one of these she had become past mistress in the fine art of congealing the warm advances of fresh and friendly salesmen of the op- ent, she told herself. The man across the table was little more than boy an amazingly handsome, astonishingly impudent, cockily confident boy, who was staring with insolent approval at Emma MeChesney's trim, shirt-waist ed figure, and her fresh, attractive col bring, and her well-cared-for hair be- meath the smart summer hat.
 Tt isn't in human nature to be as good looking as you are" spake Elm ma McChesney, suddenly, being a per son who never trifled with halfway measures "Fll bet you have bad teeth, or an impeachment in your speech"
 The gorgeous young man smiled. His teeth were perfect. Peter Piper picked peck of pickled peppers" he announced, glibly. Nothing missing there, is there?"
 Must be your morals then" retort- ed Emma McChesney My! My! And on the road! Why, the trail of bleed ing hearts that you must leave all the way from Maine to California would probably make the Red sea turn white with envy"
 The fresh young kid speared piece of liver and looked soulfully up into the adoring eyes of the waitress who was lowering over him.
 "Got any nice hot biscuits tonight, girlie?" he inquired.
 "Tll get you some; sure," wildly promised his handmaiden, and disap- peared kitehenward
 Brand new to the road aren't your" observed Emma McChesney. cruelty.
 What makes you think"
 Liver and bacon, hot biscuits, Wor- cestershire," elucidated she. No old timer would commit suicide that way. After you've been out for two or three years you'll stick to the Rock of Gi- braltar-roast beef, medium. Oh, I get wild now then, and order eggs laid 'em, but plain roast beef, un- chloroformed, is the one best bet. You can't go wrong if you stick to it."
 The god-like young man leaned for ward, forgetting to eat.
 You don't mean to tell me you're on the road,"
 Why not?" demanded Emma Me Chesney, briskly.
 "Oh, fe. fiel" said the handsome youth, throwing her a languishing look Any woman as pretty as you are, and with those eyes. and that hair. and figure-Say. little one. what are you going to do tonight?"
 Emma McChesney sugared her tea, and stirred it. slowly Then sine looked up. Tonight you fresh young kid, you," she said calmly, I'm going to dictate two letters, explaining why b-e4ACas was AStrNA tsA@e NN~As anu why it's going to pick up next week, and then I'm going to keep an engage ment V lth a nine-hour beauty sleep
 Don't get sore at a fellow. You'd take pity on me if you knew how have to work to kill an evening in one of these town pump burgs. Kill 'eml It can't be done. They die harder than the heroine in a ten, twenty. thirty. From supper to bedtime is twice as long as from breakfast to