ole an' paddle like I was
paid for it with both hands at once to keep from being scalded while the
tub filled from two steady spurts one boilin' an' one of ice water.
Well, Mrs. Lathrop, I never felt nothin' like that kind of a bath
before!

"If I tried to wash anywhere as was at all difficult I lost my grip on
the hole an' the water went out with a swish as made Niagara look like a
cow's tail afore I could possibly get in position again. I was n't more
'n halfway down my washin' when the awfulest noise begin outside an' the
convention itself was babes sleepin' in soothin' syrup compared to
whatever was goin' on in that next room.

"I tell you I got out of that tub in a hurry an' rubbed off as best I
could with a very thick towel marked 'Bath' as was laid on the floor all
ready, an' got into my clothes an' went out.

"Well, Mrs. Lathrop, you may believe me or not just as you please, but
it was _another_ lady with _another_ delegate with _another_ purple
ribbon an' _another_ little flag. The ladies was very mad an' the other
delegate was bitin' her lips an' lookin' out the window. In the end the
ladies was so mad they went down to the telephone an' left the delegate
an' me alone in the room together.

"Well, Mrs. Lathrop, you can believe me or not just as you please, but
that other delegate asked me my name an' when I told her she said it was
her name, too. Then she laughed until she cried an' said she never hear
anythin' to beat us. She said it was all as clear as day to her an' that
she should write a story about it. She said about all she got out of
life was writin' stories about it an' she never lost a chance to make a
good one. She said she wished I'd stay with her an' I could have half
the bed an' half of that same tub as long as I like.

"Well, Mrs. Lathrop, the long an' short of it was as I felt that no
matter how kind she was I would n't never be able to be happy anywhere
where I had to be around with a woman who talked all the time, an' sleep
in a bed with another Susan Clegg, an' wash in a tub as you have to stop
up with some of yourself, so I just took my things an' come home by the
noon train an' I'll stay here one while now, too, I guess."

"I--" said Mrs. Lathrop.

"Yes, I was just going to ask you where you put it," said Miss Clegg, "I
shall need it to get in the back door."

"It's--" said Mrs. Lathrop.

"I can get it myself," said her friend, rising. "Well, good-bye. I won't
deny as I'm mad fo