Mexico Missouri message., 1915-04-29
PROvIAG IT TO "POP"
BY GEORGE MuNsoN.
TnFTaFEIaLsIET5TaTaTnIEaInaHNmsTEran

Copyright. 1915. by w. G. Chapman.)
The genial actor-manager had a score
of offices in different cities, but, of
course, New York was his headquar-
tiers. There some dozen young men
arranged his numerous affairs, re-
drafted plays, shooed off fair appli-
cants and, in the interim of their du-
ties, bitten by the strange, Unsuitable
stage lust, begged the kindly old man
to try them out at the same salary to
start.
Robertson had been the most per-
sistent. Perhaps he might in time
have worried "Pop" Garrison to give
him a walking part; but he came
down with appendicitis, and one morn
ing his desk was empty, and only a
pathetic scrawl from Mrs. Robertson
indicated that he was in the hospital
Sure! Pay him each week till he
gets we'll" said Garrison to the CASH
Ter. "His wife writes she'll be down
each Saturday to collect. Pay her
when she comes in"
Promptly at noon on Saturday q
plump, fluffy-haired little blonde pre-
scented herself at the cashiers desk.
She wrote her receipt in a laborious
hand and took her twenty-five dollars
gratefully.
Hello! How did you get in here?
We don't want any ladies in any
thing" sung out Pop Garrison.
I'm Edna Robertson" said the lit
tie woman demurely. my husband"
Good lord! beg your pardon,
madam" said Garrison How is your
husband? Doing we'll? I'm glad Of
that Tell him his desks waiting for
him as soon as he's back again"
mice little woman" he commented
to the cashier. II didn't know Robert
son was married, come to think of it.
If had a wife like that Fd-Fd go of
my head"
Every week for a month little Mrs.
Robertson duly appeared at the cash
ier's window promptly at twelve on
Saturday, received the money and
signed for it.
On the fifth Saturday she did not
appear. But in the afternoon there
appeared in place of her, slim and
rather tall brunette. She made her
way to the cashiers window.
II have come for my husbands
money" she announced.
"Eh?" asked the cashier.
my name is Flora Robertson, and
there's five weeks pay coming" she
snapped.
Pop happened to be passing through,
and he came up at the sound of the
woman's excited tones. The cashier
left his cage.
This lady says she is Mrs. Robert
son, and she wants five weeks sal
ary," said the cashier.
Pop had weathered many a crisis
and his nerve did not desert him now
"Pay Mrs. Robertson by all means,
he said, addressing the angry woman
"And how is your husband? Better
l hope?" he continued.
81 hope SO. AS we'll as he deserves
to be, anyway" answered wife No. 2
do you know what was the matter
with him?"
"Ap-appendicitis, understood
stammered Pop Garrison, striving tC
retain his self-control.
Nope. Bad temper. 1t went to his
insides," she returned. Say, young
man, you hand out that money before
this gink has time to change his
mind" she added to the cashier.
And, clasping her money to her DO
som, she stalked out of the Office, leav
ing the two men fiabbergasted.
"Well, I'm" said Pop.
Ditto here" returned the other
What am to charge it to-overhead
Mr.. Carlson"
mo. Put it down to petty cash." re
turned the old actor-manager. Lord
if hadn't been boy myself once
but it's too bad, too bad!"
And Pops head dropped mournfulll
as he went back into his den, and h
refused to see anybody at all during
the remainder of the day.
On the Monday morning, bright ant
early, Joe Robertson was at his desk
He had been there about half minute
when the cashier came up to him.
"The old man wants to see you
Joe," he said Say, you'd best fix VI
some sort of explanation in your MIND
old man"
Joe, looking pretty well scared
went into Garrison's den. The oil
man rose up and looked at him will
a heavy paternal air.
81 wouldn't have thought 1t of you
Joe," he said, shaking his head
Joe Robertson pulled hundred AM
twenty-five dollars from his right-han'
trousers pocket Then he pulled |
hundred and twenty-five from his left
hand trousers pocket He slamme'
the whole sum down on the desk IN
der Pops eyes. Pop stared at tn,
money, made grab for it, and put /
down.
Joe chuckled. "Ain't the best fe
male impersonator you've ever seen?
he asked. "Say, Mr. Garrison, blond!
was me. And brunette was me also