The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1888-08-08

sofa, folded my arms behind my head,
and intlmated that I was ready TO hear
the ''plan."
My wife came and seated herself on
{: ioy; stool Beside mo.
"You see, Charley" she began, with
round, solemn eyes fixed upon mine,
~ have thought and thought all day,
and this seems the only thing to he
done.n
"WellY" I said e%xpectantly, as she
paused.
"Well." she went on, 81 am conf
dent that Uncle Simon will. arrive first
on Tuesday, anu he shall have the
pink room"
~ have 10 objection" I observed,
as she paused again. "but | fail to see
how that II help u.s."
"Charley, you are SO stupid, dear.
u know there is something the mat
ter with the lock Of the pink room
door,"
looked-as I felt-bewlldered.
Yes" l %assentod, helplessly.
"Well, Charley" In impatient tones.
ssdon't you understands
~ confess to being still st soa, my
dear" l said, with abject humility.
"But 60 on. Unfold your plan, and
my feebler intellect will try to follow.
The uncle who appears first upon the
scene. Uncle Simon, l think you said,
Is to have the pink room, and there is
something the matter with tic lock Of
the pink room door. I think l have
mastered these two important points.
And apres."
"Don't you see2" my wife went on
with growing excitement. 1.-THE lock
has often stuck fast before. 1t did the
last time Uncle Simon was here. We
could not get 1t open for ever 80 long.
Don't you rememberp SO what more
natural than that it should go wrong
on IucsGay?" Anu she looked at me
t~riumphantly.
"But, my child" I murmured, sit
won't go wrong as you call it, on
Tuesday. Things never do 60 wrong
when they ought to. It's only when
they didn't ought to-" l concluded vul-
carly.
cor course, you silly boy, l know
that. But then, you see, I'll mako it
go wrong"
make 1t go wrongl" l repeated.
"NVhat do you meant"
Ella regarded me wltherlngly, then
said:
"Really. Charley, you seem as If
you were being stupid on purpose. Why
OF course, when Uncle Simon goes up
to get ready for dinner l shall simply
lock the door. Then we can pretend
that the lock has stuck fast again and
that we can't get the door open. When
Uncle Gregory has gone to bod-you
know he always goes quite oarly-we
can lot poor old Uncle Simon out, and
give him a splendid supper to make up
for the loss Of his dinner. He is very
good natured, you know. And then,"
she concluded, she Will be away In the
morning before Uncle Gregory is up.
So there you arel'
| gave vent to a low, prolonged
whistle.
"You are a most Machiavelian
young woman, Ella" 1 said gravely.
''NYhat q diplomatist you would have
maden
NYes," modestIy; II think it rather
q nice little plan. 1t came to my head
this afternoon while l was putting baby
to Sleep"
"There are two rather serious oblec-
tions, however," o~bBeryei, aftet.
poil3ng 2ting lipc for aolno seconds Iii.
sRGucH.
WelGn fathsr ahntply.
NNetl 4--lG SteiOs Az IhlGolnpN1nly.
snoak.S kind o thing, dorat't tt2 Even
for Nslp within Grlm stniic
On, no. promptly. MOI Wneh
you get used to the idea. 1 thought 80
myself at first, but it soon wore off,"
"Ahl' l murmered, lost in admira
ton Of this remarkable and easy code
Of morals.
"You said two objections, Charley"
resumed my wife. ''Nvhat was the
otherpn
How are you SO sure that my uncle
will arrive first2n J. inquired. "Ir 1t
should chance 10 be yours l wouldn't
give much for the success or your plan.
Mr.. Carper Is II very respectable old
gentleman-but l think you could
hardly call him sweet tempered! He
CHOW, don't make objections, dear,o
interrupted Ella, docisively. II know
your uncle will come first, because he
always comes early in the afternoon,
and Uncle Gregory never comes until
the last train lie can possibly get be-
fore dinner time"
"Besides," I said weakly, ssthere
Will be 10 opportunity for the lock to
ooiSf looo3 L iIunSlllOs L uOl u Oillllh
my uncle locks his bedroom door. Men
don't generally. I never do"
''Oh, 1t doesn't want to be locked,
you silly boy. If l left the key inside,
how could l fasten it OUTSIDER Really,
Charley, you are much less intelligent
than thought you were."
| bore this accusation meekly and in
silence. l vas thinking what a fearful
there would be If the imprisoned
uncle got out before the appointed
time and found us entertaining the
enemy at dinner. Then q sudden feel
ing Of conjunction took possession Of
me.
"No, by Jove,"I exclaimed, rising
from the sofa and taking up a position
on the hearthrug, "I won't consent to
any such plan. It's certain to miss
fire somehow; and then we'll bs in Il
nice scrape. Let the two old fellows
come. and have done with 1t. If they
disinherit lis both, and ignore Il sons