The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-01-16

water which r1pplcd unsteady at their
feet.
But to Mr.. Battledore's dismay it
transpired that Sam had failed in his
mission. His wife pretended to know
nothing about the letter, and had in
iror turn questioned him quite sharply
about it.
"She put me in a corner" said Sam,
rubbing his nos with a perplexed air,
"bv asking what you had told me about
it, and why l was putting questions to
her"
What did you say" inquired Mr..
Battledore, breathlessly.
II said I only asked for fun. That
was a little weak, wasn't it? But don't
think she twigged | vas Disconnected,
said Sam. "She seemed more curious
to know what you had let drop about
the letter."
Yes, yes" murmured Mr.. Battle
dore.
Il said 1 had forgotten, but believed
you had mentioned something about
light green, turned up with blue or
some other color. Evidently Maria
didn't know what to make of my m
swer."
Then she will go and speak to my
wife, who will be at me again" mOaned
Mr.. Battledore.
Il shouldn't wonder. I say. Joe,
what an ass you've made of Yourself"
said Sam, revealing a little uneasiness
-. L:r ,,, tGNUl~ I,D,r-
what your stupidity may lead to? It
may turn ont to be the little cloud no
bigger than a mans hand. There is no
trusting you. You would let out every
thing you had a chance"
Sam Newell had much more reason
to be afraid of his wife than his friend
had of his, but he was animated by a
holder disposition. Nevertheless, he
shrank from the ordeal of having to
confess to the Paris trip in the face of
distinct prohibition, and in a minor de-
gree he began to share his friends de-
preston. Mr.. Battledore's nervousness
gave him just cause to fear that he
would betray them both on the smallest
provocation, and he rather jumped at
the suggestion that they should return
to town that evening, instead of wait
ing till the morrow.
Il think we had better, and then YOU
will be out of harms way all the soon
err"
"That will put an end to the Difficult
ty, for [ shall no doubt find the letter
somewhere about the office tomorrow
and can set everything right" said Mr..
Battledore, eagerly.
Accordingly the two dissemblers
shirked then families as much as posi-
BILE all day, and then created consider
able surprise and CONSERVATION by I'M
expectedly announcing their intended
departure by an early evening train.
Business was as usual the excuse put
forward, and after an uncomfortable af-
ternoon they started back to town, con-
soled by the reflection that the danger
was happily over.
On the following evening, however.
Mr.. B%attledore greeted his friend with
a very rueful countenance.
"The letter is not to be found any
where. Those idiots at the office must
have mislaid it,"
"Or else it miscarried," suggested
Sam, with an exasperating grin.
"But l said / received i'll Now, what
am / to do? What is it I'm supposed to
have ordered? 1t might be anything,
from wall paper or curtains to a pair of
gloves or a drawing ROOF sofa" ex-
claimed Mr.. Battledore, quite tragi-
cally.
cit is certainly awkward; but if /
were you'll should pretend to forget all
about the thing when next we 60 down.
Ten to one your wife will then mention
what it u.s." said Sam, in his confident
way.
Poor Mr.. Battledore plucked up
heart a little at this suggestion, but he
continued to grow more and more un-
easy, especially after receiving q post
card from his wife a day or two later,
enioining him to remember her COM
mission, and to bring it down with him
on Saturday, without fail-the last two
words being literally UNDERSIGNED.
"How can / pretend I've forgotten it
after that?" said Mr.. Battledore, pee
yishly, as he threw the post card on the
table.
"You will have to. It's your only
chance" said Sam, looking quite seri-
Gus.
WHY couldn't she have mentioned
the article, instead Of saying it p ex-
claimed Mr.. Battledore, tearing the
card viciously into small pieces.
ssI1 tell Won what. old fellow. 1
shall take Mrs. N. a bracelet or some
thing when we go down on Saturday
said Sam thoughtfully. eff there
should be a row, it won't do any harm.
and it may enable me to assist You tx
ascertain what you wish to know"
Mr.. Battledore's approximations
reached to a dangerous pitch when his
friend announced his intention of adopt
ing such q precaution. But a littl,
calm rehection induced him To fol