"Elmer," I said sharply, thumping the floor with a crutch.

Spiker turned slowly.

"Oh," he exclaimed, "is that you? Excuse me; I was reading the news.
Everybody ought to keep up with what's happenin'. The higher up we
gits on the ladder of human intelligence, the more news we have--we can
see furder."

Having evolved this sage remark, Elmer twisted back to his old position
and raised the paper.

"Now mind this," he said. "Jonas Parker and his wife and four of his
children were----"

"See here," I cried, pounding the floor again. "I don't care for Jonas
Parker and all of his children. Where is Mr. Weston?"

"Oh," said Elmer, "excuse me. I thought you had come to see me. It's
Weston, eh? Well, his room's just there at the head of the stairs."

He pointed to the door which gave an entrance to the rear hall, but as
I wished to be a bit formal in my call on the stranger, I suggested
that Mr. Spiker might oblige me by seeing if the gentleman was at home.
This seemed entirely unnecessary to mine host, and he wanted to argue
the point. But I insisted, and he arose with a sigh, and taking the
lamp in his hand, disappeared, leaving me in utter darkness. The door
banged shut behind him and I heard him at the foot of the stairs
roaring "Ho-ho-there-ho!"