The Best American Humorous Short Stories

e the new railway was built through the adjoining county, however, the stage trip became a mere twelve-mile, cross-country transfer from one railroad to another, and the stage made a later trip

ter. The coach might be quick

red to the timidly protesting Aunt Margaret, "an' then

slammed open the flimsy, paper-bound "cash book" that served as a re

ed, and Aunt Margaret fled, ashamed and consci

ut hurried straight into the Tutt House. The other man would have been neck and neck with him in the race, if it had not been that he paused to seize two

d help her husband and son block up the aisle, while the other matron had the ineffable satisfaction

indly allow

d. Her husband was pink but collected. Her son was crimson and uncollected. The brunette daught

g matron remarked as her daughter joined her on the ground. "This place looked

vented the blonde matron from retaliating upon the unfortunate who h

black scrawl, "J. Belmont Van Kamp, wife, and daughter." T

g rooms, en suite if p

ooms in th' house. Me an' Marg't sleeps in one, an' we're a-gittin' too old fer a shake-down on

indow, The other man was getting out of the c

and lodging until this time

ad arrived. Uncle Bil

ounced. There! It was out! He wished M

Billy was beginning to be sorry he had not said three do

ooms in the house," he calmly said, and Landlord Tu

Th' rooms is th' three right along th' hull front o' th' house. I'll be up and make on a

e of the Van Kamps up the wide hall stai

flourish, "Edward Eastman

choice rooms, en

, an' he got it. They hain't but th' little room over th' kitchen left. I'll

ng by any known standards of measurement. The thing was an

n, calmly quartered them as he had said. "An' let 'em splut