Aunt Jane's Nieces and Uncle John

  CHAPTER XVI

  THE LODGING AT SPOTVILLE

  "Wake up, Patsy: I smell coffee!" called Beth, and soon the two girlswere dressed and assisting Myrtle to complete her toilet. Through theopen windows came the cool, fragrant breath of morning; the sky wasbeginning to blush at the coming of the sun.

  "To think of our getting up at such unearthly hours!" cried Patsycheerfully. "But I don't mind it in the least, Beth; do you?"

  "I love the daybreak," returned Beth, softly. "We've wasted the besthours of morning abed, Patsy, these many years."

  "But there's a difference," said Myrtle, earnestly. "I know thedaybreak in the city very well, for nearly all my life I have had torise in the dark in order to get my breakfast and be at work on time.It is different from this, I assure you; especially in winter, whenthe chill strikes through to your bones. Even in summer time the airof the city is overheated and close, and the early mornings cheerlessand uncomfortable. Then I think it is best to stay in bed as long asyou can--if you have nothing else to do. But here, out in the open, itseems a shame not to be up with the birds to breathe the scent of thefields and watch the sun send his heralds ahead of him to proclaim hiscoming and then climb from the bottomless pit into the sky and takepossession of it."

  "Why, Myrtle!" exclaimed Patsy, wonderingly; "what a poetic notion.How did it get into your head, little one?"

  Myrtle's sweet face rivaled the sunrise for a moment. She made noreply but only smiled pathetically.

  Uncle John's knock upon the door found them ready for breakfast, whichold Dan'l had skilfully prepared in the tiny kitchen and now placedupon a round table set out upon the porch. By the time they hadfinished the simple meal Wampus had had his coffee and prepared theautomobile for the day's journey. A few minutes later they saidgood-bye to the aged musician and took the trail that led throughSpotville.

  The day's trip was without event. They encountered one or two Indianson the way, jogging slowly along on their shaggy ponies; but thecreatures were mild and inoffensive. The road was fairly good andthey made excellent time, so that long before twilight Spotvillewas reached and the party had taken possession of the one small andprimitive "hotel" the place afforded. It was a two-story, clapboardedbuilding, the lower floor being devoted to the bar and dining room,while the second story was divided into box-like bedrooms none tooclean and very cheaply furnished.

  "I imagine we shall find this place 'the limit'," remarked Uncle Johnruefully. "But surely we shall be able to stand it for one night," headded, with a philosophic sigh.

  "Want meat fer supper?" asked the landlord, a tall, gaunt man whoconsidered himself dressed when he was in his shirt sleeves.

  "What kind of meat?" inquired Uncle John, cautiously.

  "Kin give yeh fried pork er jerked beef. Ham 'a all out an' thechickens is beginnin' to lay."

  "Eggs?"

  "Of course, stranger. Thet's the on'y thing Spotville chickens lay,nowadays. I s'pose whar yeh come from they lay biscuits 'n' porkchops."

  "No. Door knobs, sometimes," said Mr. Merrick, "but seldom pork chops.Let's have eggs, and perhaps a little fried pork to go with them. Anymilk?"

  "Canned er fresh?"

  "Fresh preferred."

  The landlord looked at him steadily.

  "Yeh've come a long-way, stranger," he said, "an' yeh must 'a' spent alot of money, here 'n' there. Air yeh prepared to pay fer thet orderin solid cash?"

  Uncle John seemed startled, and looked at the Major, who smileddelightedly.

  "Are such things expensive, sir?" the latter asked the landlord.

  "Why, we don't eat 'em ourselves, 'n' thet's a cold fact. Eggs iseggs, an' brings forty cents a dozen to ship. There's seven cowsin town, 'n' forty-one babies, so yeh kin figger what fresh milk'sworth."

  "Perhaps," said Uncle John mildly, "we can stand the expense--if wewon't rob the babies."

  "Don't worry 'bout thet. The last autymobble folks as come this waygot hot because I charged 'em market prices fer the truck they et. SoI'm jest inquirin' beforehand, to save hard feelin's. I've found outone thing 'bout autymobble folks sense I've ben runnin' this hoe-tel,an' thet is thet a good many is ownin' machines thet oughter be payin'their bills instid o' buyin' gasoline."

  The Major took him aside. He did not tell the cautious landlord thatMr. Merrick was one of the wealthiest men in America, but he exhibiteda roll of bills that satisfied the man his demands would be paid infull.

  The touring; party feasted upon eggs and fresh milk, both verydelicious but accompanied by odds and ends of food not so palatable.The landlord's two daughters, sallow, sunken cheeked girls, waited onthe guests and the landlord's wife did the cooking.

  Beth, Patsy and Myrtle retired early, as did Uncle John. The Major,smoking his "bedtime cigar," as he called it, strolled out into theyard and saw Wampus seated in the automobile, also smoking.

  "We get an early start to-morrow, Wampus," said the Major. "Better getto bed."

  "Here is my bed," returned the chauffeur, quietly.

  "But there's a room reserved for you in the hotel."

  "I know. Don't want him. I sleep me here."

  The Major looked at him reflectively.

  "Ever been in this town before, Wampus?" he asked.

  "No, sir. But I been in other towns like him, an' know this kind ofhotel. Then why do I sleep in front seat of motor car?"

  "Because you are foolish, I suppose, being born that way and unableto escape your heritage. For my part, I shall sleep in a bed; like aChristian," said the Major rather testily.

  "Even Christian cannot sleep sometime," returned Wampus, leaning backin his seat and puffing a cloud of smoke into the clear night air."For me, I am good Christian; but I am not martyr."

  "What do you mean by that?" demanded the Major.

  "Do you sometime gamble?" inquired Wampus softly.

  "Not often, sir."

  "But sometime? Ah! Then I make you a bet. I bet you ten dollar to onecent you not sleep in your bed to-night."

  The Major coughed. Then he frowned.

  "Is it so bad as that?" he asked.

  "I think he is."

  "I'll not believe it!" exclaimed Major Doyle. "This hotel isn't whatyou might call first-class, and can't rank with the Waldorf-Astoria;but I imagine the beds will be very comfortable."

  "Once," said Wampus, "I have imagination, too. Now I have experience;so I sleep in automobile."

  The Major walked away with an exclamation of impatience. He had neverpossessed much confidence in the Canadian's judgment and on thisoccasion he considered the fellow little wiser than a fool.

  Wampus rolled himself in a rug and was about to stretch his moderatelength upon the broad double seat when a pattering of footsteps washeard and Beth came up to the car. She was wrapped in a dark cloakand carried a bundle of clothing under one arm and her satchel in theunoccupied hand. There was a new moon which dimly lighted the scene,but as all the townspeople were now in bed and the hotel yard desertedthere was no one to remark upon the girl's appearance.

  "Wampus," she said, "let me into the limousine, please. The night isso perfect I've decided to sleep here in the car."

  The chauffeur jumped down and opened the door.

  "One moment an' I make up the beds for all," he said.

  "Never mind that," Beth answered. "The others are all asleep, I'msure."

  Wampus shook his head.

  "They all be here pretty soon," he predicted, and proceeded to deftlyprepare the interior of the limousine for the expected party. WhenBeth had entered the car Wampus pitched the lean-to tent and arrangedthe cots as he was accustomed to do when they "camped out."

  Scarcely had he completed this task when Patsy and Myrtle appeared.They began to explain their presence, but Wampus interrupted them,saying:

  "All right, Miss Patsy an' Miss Myrtle. Your beds he made up an' Miss'Lizbeth already asleep in him."

  So they crept inside with sighs of relief, and Wampus had just mountedto the front seat again and dis
posed himself to rest when Uncle Johntrotted up, clad in his trousers and shirt, with the balance of hisapparel clasped in his arms. He looked at the tent with pleasedapproval.

  "Good boy, Wampus!" he exclaimed. "That room they gave me is aninferno. I'm afraid our young ladies won't sleep a wink."

  "Oh, yes," returned Wampus with a nod; "all three now inside car, safean' happy."

  "I'm glad of it. How was your own room, Wampus?"

  "I have not seen him, sir. But I have suspect him; so I sleep here."

  "You are a wise chauffeur--a rare genus, in other words. Good night,Wampus. Where's the Major?"

  Wampus chuckled.

  "In hotel. Sir, do the Major swear sometime?"

  Uncle John crept under the tent.

  "If he does," he responded, "he's swearing this blessed minute.Anyhow, I'll guarantee he's not asleep."

  Wampus again mounted to his perch.

  "No use my try to sleep 'til Major he come," he muttered, and settledhimself to wait.

  It was not long.

  Presently some one approached on a run, and a broad grin overspreadthe chauffeur's features. The Major had not delayed his escape longenough to don his trousers even; he had grabbed his belongings in botharms and fled in his blue and white striped undergarments.

  Wampus leaped down and lifted the flap of the tent. The Major pausedlong enough in the moonlight to stare at the chauffeur and saysternly:

  "If you utter one syllable, you rascal, I'll punch your head!"

  Wampus was discreet. He said not a word.