By George Randolph Chester (1869- )

[From McClure's Magazine, June, 1905; copyright, 1905, S S McClure Co ; republished author's permission ]

I

Just stage rumbled over the rickety old bridge, creaking and groaning, the sun came from behind the clouds that had frowned all the way, passengers cheered up bit The two richly dressed matrons who so utterly and unnecessarily oblivious presence of now suspended hostilities moment by mutual and unspoken consent, and viewed with relief the little, golden-tinted valley tree-clad road just beyond The respective husbands two ladies exchanged mere glance, no more, of comfort They, too, were relieved, though more momentary truce than by anything else They regretted compelled to hate , for each had reckoned up his vis-a-vis as rather proper sort of fellow, probably man of some achievement, used to good living and good company

Extreme iciness was unavoidable , however When one stranger has splendidly preserved blonde wife other splendidly preserved brunette wife, both of whom have won social prominence by years of hard fighting and aloofness, there remains nothing two men but the lead, especially when directly under the eyes leaders

The son blonde matron smiled cheerfully welcome light flooded the coach

nice-looking young man, of about twenty-two, one might judge, and his smiling, though in perfectly impersonal and correct sort of manner, pretty daughter brunette matron The pretty daughter also smiled, but her smile was demurely directed trees outside, clad were in all the flaming glory autumn tints, glistening recent rain and dripping with gems that sparkled and flashed noonday sun fell

marvelous one corner eye, while seeming to view mere scenery

The driver looked down, as he drove safely off the bridge, and shook his head swirl of water that rushed and eddied, dark and muddy, close up under the rotten planking; then he cracked his whip, horses sturdily attacked the little hill

Thick, overhanging trees on either side now dimmed the light again, two plump matrons once more glared past the opposite shoulders, profoundly unaware of The husbands took politely surly look required The blonde son's eyes still sought the brunette daughter, but furtively done and quite unsuccessfully, daughter was now doing little glaring on her own account The blonde matron had just swept her eyes across the daughter's skirt, estimating the fit and material of it with contempt so artistically veiled could almost be understood dark

II

The big bays swung brow hill with ease, and dashed into small circular clearing, where quaint little two-story building, with mossy watering-trough out in front, nestled under the shade of majestic old trees that reared their brown and scarlet crowns proudly sky long, low porch ran across the front structure, and complaining sign hung out announcing, in dim, weather-flecked letters on cracked board, "Tutt House " gray-headed man, in brown overalls and faded blue jumper, stood porch and shook his fist stage as it whirled by

"What delightfully old-fashioned inn ! " exclaimed the pretty daughter "How like to stop there over night ! "

" probably wish yourself away before morning, Evelyn," replied her mother indifferently " it mere siege of discomfort "

The blonde matron turned to her husband The pretty daughter looking picturesque "inn" heads lady and her son

"Edward, please pull down the shade behind me," she directed " quite draught broken window "

The pretty daughter bit her lip The brunette matron continued to stare shade exact spot her gaze before directed, and she never quivered an eyelash The young man seemed very uncomfortable, and he tried to look his apologies pretty daughter, but she him now, not even if her eyes all corners

They were bowling along through another avenue of trees driver suddenly shouted, "Whoa there ! "

The horses were brought up with jerk that was well nigh fatal assortment of dignity inside the coach loud roaring heard, both ahead and rear, sharp splitting like fusillade of pistol shots, then creaking and tearing of timbers The driver bent suddenly forward

"Gid ap ! " he cried, horses sprang forward with lurch He swung them around sharp bend with skillful hand and poised his weight above the brake plunged at terrific speed down steep grade The roaring was louder than ever now, and it became deafening suddenly emerged thick underbrush bottom declivity

"Caught, by gravy ! " ejaculated the driver, and, second time, he brought the coach to an abrupt stop

"Do see the matter, Ralph," said the blonde matron impatiently

Thus commanded, the young man swung out and asked the driver

"Paintsville dam's busted," informed "I been a-lookin' fer it this many year, an' this here freshet done it the holler there ? Well, they's ten foot o' water , an' it had ort stone dry The bridge is tore out behind us, an' we're stuck here till that water runs out 't git away till to-morry, anyways "

He pointed out the peculiar topography place, and Ralph got back coach

"We're practically on flood-made island," he exclaimed, with one eye pretty daughter, "and to stop over night quaint, old-fashioned inn we passed "

The pretty daughter's eyes twinkled, and he thought he caught swift, direct gleam from under the long lashes--but not sure

"Dear me, how annoying," said the blonde matron, but the brunette matron still stared, without the slightest trace of interest in anything else, infinitesimal spot she had selected affronting window-shade

The two men gave sighs of resignation, and cast carefully concealed glances at , speculating possibility of cigar and glass, and maybe good story or two, or possibly even game of poker evening meal tell what might or happen ?

III

stage drew up in front little hotel, it found Uncle Billy Tutt prepared revenge In former days the stage had always stopped Tutt House noonday meal new railway was built adjoining county, however, the stage trip became mere twelve-mile, cross-country transfer from one railroad to another, stage made later trip, allowing the passengers plenty for "dinner" started Day after day, coach flashed by with its money-laden passengers, Uncle Billy had hoped would break down But better, much better The coach quickly mended, but not the flood

"I'm a-goin' t' charge 'em till they squeal," he declared timidly protesting Aunt Margaret, "an' then I'm goin' t' charge 'em least mite more, drat 'em ! "

He retreated behind the rough wooden counter that did duty as desk, slammed open the flimsy, paper-bound "cash book" that served as register, and planted his elbows uncompromisingly on either side of it

"Let 'em bring in their own traps," he commented, and Aunt Margaret fled, ashamed and conscience-smitten, kitchen It seemed awful

The first one coach husband brunette matron, and, proceeding under instructions, he waited neither for luggage nor women folk, but hurried straight Tutt House The other man neck and neck race, that he paused to seize two suitcases and had the misfortune to drop one, which burst open and scattered choice assortment of lingerie from one end dingy coach other

confusion of rescuing the fluffery, the owner suitcase had to sacrifice her hauteur and help her husband and son block up the aisle, while the other matron had the ineffable satisfaction of being _kept waiting_, at last being enabled , sweetly and most polite consideration:

" kindly allow me ? "

The blonde matron raised up and swept her skirts back perfectly flat She was pale but collected Her husband was pink but collected Her son was crimson and uncollected The brunette daughter have found an eye anywhere countenance as she rustled out after her mother

" Belmont to secure choice quarters," the triumphing matron remarked as her daughter joined her ground "This place looked so that there can scarcely be more than one comfortable suite "

vital thrust Only splendidly cultivated self-control prevented the blonde matron from retaliating unfortunate who had muddled things Even so, her eyes spoke whole shelves of volumes

The man who first reached the register wrote, in straight black scrawl, "J Belmont Van Kamp, wife, and daughter " There being no space left address, he put none down

" three adjoining rooms, en suite if possible," he demanded

"Three ! " exclaimed Uncle Billy, scratching his head "Won't two do ye ? I ain't got but six bedrooms in th' house Me an' Marg't sleeps in one, an' we're a-gittin' too old fer shake-down on th' floor I'll have t' save one room fer th' driver, an' that leaves four You take two now---"

Mr Van Kamp cast hasty glance window, The other man was getting coach His own wife was stepping porch

"What ask for meals and lodging until to-morrow ? " he interrupted

The decisive moment had arrived Uncle Billy drew deep breath

"Two dollars head ! " he defiantly announced There ! out ! Margaret had stayed to hear him say it

The guest seriously shocked, and Uncle Billy was beginning sorry he said three dollars, when Mr Van Kamp stopped the landlord's own breath

"I'll fifteen dollars three best rooms house," he calmly said, and Landlord Tutt gasped money fluttered down under his nose