“How much for your tickets?”
“Fifty cents.”
“Family rates?”
Catherine met the unforeseen question promptly.
“Where there are more than three in a family, the tickets are only thirty-five cents apiece.”
78“So. Well, give me one,” and he drew a handful of small change from his pocket. “Holcomb’s the name. Chester G. Holcomb.”
Catherine inscribed the name in her pretty even hand upon a blue card, numbered it 2, and handed it to her patron. He laid down thirty-five cents and turned away.
“O,” said Catherine, flushing softly. “You didn’t understand. It is only when you get three cards that they are cheap like that.”
Chester Holcomb, known as the biggest miser in the county, grunted.
“You said if they was more than three in the family, and they’s six children besides ma and me. I knowed there was some skin game about this thing, somewheres. Here’s your ticket and you give me back my money.”