The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-01-01

l
! those you want, you can"
i, Snap! went the electric switch I'M
der Emma McChesney's fingers. /
was as decisive as blow In the face
She walked to the door. The littl'
room was dim.
I'm sending my boy through col
lege with my sealskin-and-sable fund,
she said crisply; "and I'm to meet hin
at 1890"
ooh, that's your appointment" Re
lief was evident in T. A. Bucks tone
Emma McChesney shook despair
ing head. For impudent and un
quenchable inquisitiveness commend
me to a man; Here! If you must
know, though intended it as a sur
prise when 1t was finished and fur.
nished-Tm going to rent fiat, a reg
ular six-room, plenty-of-closets fiat, af.
ter ten years of miserable hotel exist,
ence. Jocks running over for two
days to approve it. I ought to have
waited until the holidays, SO he
wouldn't miss classes; but / couldn't
bear to. I've spent ten Thanksgiv-
ings, and ten Christmases, and ten
New Years in hotels. He'll has no
terrors for me-"
| They were walking down the corri-
dor together
Take me along-please!" pleaded
T. A. Buck, like a boy. II know all
about flats, and gas stoves, and me-
tiers, and plumbing, and everything!"
"You!" scoffed Emma McChesney,
with your five-story house and your
summer home in the mountains!"
Mother won't hear Of giving up the
house. 1 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 T. A. Bucks
jaw. I'm going!' he announced, and
scudded down the hall to his office
door. Emma McChesney pressed the
elevator button. Before the ascending
car showed glow of light in the shaft
T. A. Buck appeared with hat, gloves,
stick.
Il think the cars down stairs. Well
run up in it. What's the address?
Seventies, suppose?"
Emma Mcchesney stepped out Of
the elevator and turned. Gar! 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. l don't intend to drive up in a
five-thousand-dollar motor and have
the agent tack on an extra twenty dol
lars month"
T. A. Buck smiled with engaging
agreeableness. Subway it is" he
said. your presence would turn even
a Bronx train into rose garden
Twelve minutes later the new apart
ment building with its cream tile and
red brick Louis Something facade,
and tan brick and plaster Michael
Dougherty-contractor back, doomed |
before them, soaring even above its
lofty neighbors On the door step |
stood maple-colored giant in splen-
dor of scarlet, and gold braid, and gilt
tering buttons. The great entrance
door was opened for them by half
portion duplicate of the giant outside.
In the foyer was splendor to grace a
palace hall. There were great carved
chairs. There was massive oaken
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 leaven
If caution.
"Ah, yes! Mrs.-er-McChesne
wasn't it? / can't tell you how many
parties have been teasing me for that
apartment since you looked at it. I've
lad to-well-make myself positively
unpleasant In order to hold it for you.
Eou 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.
\. Buck. s.s,
Mrs. McChesney followed his gaze.
4uy UuSMcbb dobOCldtc, MI. i. "A.
luck" she said grimly.
The agent discarded caution; he
vas all urbanity. Their floor attained,
e unlocked the apartment door and
brew 1t open with gesture which
7as miraculous mixture OF royalty ,
nd generosity.
HE knows you'll" Kissed Emma Nc q
'hesney, entering with T. A. AN '
Their ten on the rent" The agent
ulled up shade. switched on light,
an electric globe. T. A.
uck looked about at the bare white g
'alls. at the bare polished floor, at c
le severe fireplace. v
Il knew it couldn't last" he said. c
III 1t did," replied Emma McChes- v
ey good-naturedly, Il couldn't afford
} live here" and disappeared into the n
ltchen followed by the agent, who
abbled ever and anon Of views, Of II
udsons, of express trains, Of parks. b
J Is the way of agents from F1ftieth II
rect to One Hundred and 'Umpty- II
nth. t,
T.. A. Buck, feet spread wide, hands W
hind him. was left standing In the
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