The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-09-20
JACK HARDUPS MYSTERI-
GUS VISITOR.

UUO VlSl1UK.
It was the practice Of the good PEG.
pie Of Bumpingtonshire to fill thei,
houses for the annual hunt ball,
and none more assiduous in this
respect than the Hardups, of Soaking.
ton Hall. The Hardups were a young
married couple who had lived some few
years in the neighborhood, and were
both wealthy and Hospitality disposed.
Nothing, in fact, pleased them better
than entertaining a houseful of CHEEKY
people. On the particular occasion
with which we have now to deal, the
Hardups were anxious to eclipse the
tho c~onviviality of oil previous gather
ings, and Mrs. Hardup had every rea-
son to be satisfied with her success
down to the day before the party was
fixed to assemble. On the morning of
that day, however, she received the fol-
lowing epistle from her cousin, Reggie
Bunkum, of the most highly priced
of her expected guests:
DEAR CTS: cant tell you how sorry I
am to have to cry OFF ut tho last moment,
but old Standish. who has come to us as
under secretary. has dom nue. the honor of
selecting me to be his private secretary. He
wants me to get into harness ut once. so 1
can't possibly get away. us you will UNDER
stand. but 1 wish you would ask my friend,
Charlie Twizzletoh. to take my place. You
have heard me speak of him before. though
you don't know him. He is such sport that
l am sure you will be delighted with him.
He Is quite flrst-rate on the banjo. and has
n never ending repertoire of comic songs.
Furthermore. Is u capital conjurer, and
mind you don't forget to make him do the
three dogs in II BARREL You'd declare
there really were three IL you didn't know.
You must not be surprised II he turns up at
some time as IL tramp. or in some other
o~utlandish character. A line to tho Bache-
lOr's Club will lind him. I shall think of
your festive party when am grinding away
Mt estimates and such like denominations.
Love to Jack.
your affcctionate cousin.
REGGIE BUNKUM."
II am sorry that Reggie is not COM
ing" remarked Mrs. Hardup to her hus-
band. "But it can't be helped. I sup
pose, however, that we may as we'll ask
Mr.. Twizzleton. He sounds as il he
would be fun"
*Oh, by all MEANS" responded the
genial Jack Hardup. write and tell
him we'll meet him by the $50 at
Bumpington, if he can come, and ask
him to send a wire in the morning"
Mrs. Hardup accordingly dispatched
a note to Mr.. Twizzleton. The next
morning she received q telegram accept
ing her invitation, and the same after
noon, in due course, o carriage was dis
patched to Bumpington junction to
meet the expected guest.
Mr.. Twizzleton was, of course, freely
canvassed at Mrs. Hardup's tea table
that afternoon. Reggie Bankum's ac-
count of his friends accomplishments
naturally raised lively anticipations, and
the appearance of the new conner was
awaited with much curiosity. No one
saw him arrive, for the train was late,
and when the carriage returned from
the station the Hardups and their guests
were dressing for dinner; but after the
company had assembled in the drawing
room, Mr.. Twizzleton was announced
and made his appearance. Amusement
fell upon all present. The new arrival
was to all appearance about sixty wears
Of age. His dress was such as was worn
by elderly gentlemen Of fashion in the
days of Mr.. Pickwick. A black satin
stock enveloped his neck. He was
gorgeous in avelvet waistcoat, copiously
adorned with coral buttons. From his
fob dangled q heavy bunch Of old-fash.
toned seals and trinkets. The oddity
OF his appearance was further enhanced
by . pair Of green sp~ectacles. the object
OF which the o acute observers pres
emit ct once took to be to complete his
disguise.
Only one explanation Of this unex-
pected apparition seemed possible.
Il suppose" whispered Mrs. Hardup
to her husband, when she had vel
coined her guest and introduced him to
the lady whom he was to take in to din
ner. shat this is one Of the DISCUSSES in
which Reggie warned us that his friend
might appear"
Apparently go" returned Jack;' but
it's rather queer form to lead off with .
practical joke Of this description.
What on earth are We to say to him?"
Fortunately dinner was at once an
nounced, and put an end to the momen.
tary. awkwardness which Mr.. Twizzle.
toms little joke had caused. The ma
jority of the company were, like their
host, uncertain what line to take with
the practical joker, and, a conse-
quence. he was left during the progress
Of the meal mainly to the society q
NrA Carnegie. whom he had brought
Y 70 dinner. This lady waA NE well