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Show LATeilKY I f!EO0NSn I Just wanted tn say, Mrs. Near-food, Near-food, that I'll have to change at the end of my week on Monday " "Vnii mean that you aro going to give up your loom permanently, Mr Liiirhky?" "Yes, I've been here over since I ciime to Kansas City nnd you see, I have a friend who hoards out on tho south side, mid he's asked mo" "Well, I'm ver glad you mentioned It ns I was Just putting off asking von for your room. I didn't like to disturb you, but there's a young iiiiin Irom Virginia it young Southern gentleman who's been anxious to heroine he-roine one of our guests for the last month oi two In fact, ever since he came to Kansas City and Is willing and able, too. to pay more a great deal more for the accommodations you've had. I don't like to ask any-I any-I one to leave, even If their staying Is a loss to me nnd Mr. Custls Patrick Henry Custls Is the gentleman's name, and he's from one of the very oldest of our families his father's great-great great-great grandfather having been a cousin cous-in onro removed of (Jen. Washington's wife, and Mr. Custls himself being a direct descendant on his mother's side of Mr. Henry has been living at Haltlnioro simply waiting until I could llnd a place for him. "I hope you'll remember, Mr. Latch-ky, Latch-ky, Hint when you name horo I treated treat-ed you iib ono of tho family one of my own family rnlhor thnn as a boarder. I've had nny number of opportunities op-portunities to rent your room for moro than I received from you, but you seemed so hard lo ho trying to mako your way and I realized Hint your salary was hardly sulllclent to mako both ends meet as It was and I thought It my duty to keep you. As for tho table, you were ono of the Tory few gentlemen who came for your luncheon lunch-eon and, having so few friends, you, of course, were hero nlwnys for dinner. din-ner. Hut I never permitted that to affect mo lu my treatment of you, for I realized that people nro growing moro and more careful with their Invitations. In-vitations. No, don't Intorrupt me at least ho courteous. I'm not complain lug nt nil. Mr. I.ntehky, but I do think that after all l'vo dono for you, nil tho Interest l'vo shown In you n mother wouldn't have been kinder to her own son your nctlon Is eloso to Ingratitude. You ought to know unwell un-well enough to understand that I'm not forced to keen boarders not at nil. I come from ono of the very best families In Virginia my mother's own grent-grent-great grandfather was one of (leu. Washington's most trusted trust-ed advlEers nnd It's only my desire to give young men who haven't had the best of home Influences the bene-lit bene-lit of my" "Thut's nil right, Mrs. Nenrfood, but you got your money, didn't you, every Monday night, a week In nilvance, without n word of complaint on my " "If you're going to show your sor-dldncss sor-dldncss sufllclently, Mr. I.atchky, to make this n financial matter, I might remind you of your statement, when you camo here. Hint you wero very Intimate In-timate with the best families socially In Kansas City. You led me to believe be-lieve Hint yon had entreo here, when you know, nnd I know, you didn't even possess a tuxedo coat. And goodness knows 1 gave you every opportunity to mnlto a position for yourself meeting meet-ing In my house, ns you do, tho very nicest" "Why, of course, Mrs. Nenrfood, I was delighted with your treatment and thank you- most earnestly." "You have a most strnngo way of " "Hut my friend has asked mo tn tnko him in nnd I want you to let us liavo tho largo front room on tho second sec-ond floor that's been vacant." "Very gladly. Mr. I.ntehky, very gladly. I didn't quite understand you nt first, you lsnnw. Havo your friend eonio nt nny time bo delighted to have any of your friends Join our little lit-tle family. It's a pleasure " "I hope I'm not Interfering with Mr Washington I'listls's " "Mr. l'ntrlck Henry Custls Custls, It is," said Mrs.' Nenrfood. "Don't let that troublo you. No, Indeed. You know, these young gentlemen from the old Southern families are Inclined to bo somewhat unreliable In their youthful days and It's Just ns well, Mr. I.ntehky, Just as well to let.hlm remain re-main nt the pontes house. If necessary neces-sary he can take your old room, you know. Yes. Hasn't this been n warm day?" "Which puts it up to mo," said I.ntehky softly to himself as ho head ed for tho comor, "to force I'oler to come heic nnd tako a room with mo. And for.n few seconds I thought I hnd moved. Talked out of It, nnd havo to bring another victim to snvo myself, I'm In for llfo for life." Kansas City Times. |