And as John's voice grumbled away into the sullen silence again, the determined voice without responded: "Oh, you can growl away to your heart's content, Mr. McKinney, but I want you to understand distinctly that I'm not going to humor you in any of your old bachelor, sluggardly, slovenly ways, and whims and notions. And I want you to understand, too, that I'm not hired help in this house, nor a chambermaid, nor anything of the kind. I'm the landlady here; and I'll give you just ten minutes more to get down to your breakfast, or you'll not get any--that's all!" And as the reversed cuff John was in the act of buttoning slid from his wrist and rolled under the dresser, he heard a stiff rustling of starched muslin flouncing past the door, and the quick italicized patter of determined gaiters down the hall. "Look here," said John to the bright-faced boy in the hotel office, a half hour later. "It seems the house here's been changing hands again." "Yes, sir," said the boy, closing the cigar case, and handing him a lighted match. "Well, the new landlord, whoever he is," continued John, patronizingly, "is a good one. Leastwise, he knows what's good to eat, and how to serve it." The boy laughed timidly,--"It ain't a 'landlord,' though--it's a landlady; it's my mother." "Ah," said John, dallying with the change the boy had pushed toward him. "Your mother, eh? And where's your father?" "He's dead," said the boy. "And what's this for?" abruptly asked John, examining his change. "That's your change," said the boy: "You got three for a quarter, and gave me a half." "Well, YOU just keep it," said John, sliding back the change. "It's for good luck, you know, my boy. Same as drinking your long life and prosperity. And, oh yes, by the way, you may tell your mother I'll have a friend to dinner with me to-day." "Yes, sir, and thank you, sir," said the beaming boy. "Handsome boy!" mused John, as he walked down street. "Takes that from his father, though, I'll wager my existence!" Upon his office desk John found a hastily written note. It was addressed in the well-known hand of his old chum. He eyed the missive apprehensively, and there was a positive pathos in his voice as he said aloud, "It's our divorce. I feel it!" The note, headed, "At the Office, Four in Morning," ran like this: