The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-06-21

leaning over his wifes chair, questioning
and advising her play, he devoted him
self TO q feat that would have furnished
n dIamatist with an irresistibly comic
theme, considering the difficulties Of the
situation. The general had undertaken
to draw toward him with the tip of his
boot the abandoned slipper, provoking
every instant sudden jerks from iostled
feet, protestations from disturbed play
ers, astonished looks from those who
could see tho extraordinary movements
of his leg and the remonstrance from
his wife:
"My dear, what makes you knock my
chair about so? You are giving me
headache"
AT this moment the mistress of the
house came mp to ask Latournelle IL he
would not perform some of his amusing
tricks.
Certainly; | shall be delighted" he
answered nervously, preoccupied as he
was by the extraordinary movements of
the general. who stopped down just then
as if to pick up something and immedi-
stely got up and left the group.
"Well, sir" said tho lady, "give me
your arm, and will introduce you.
Your audience is growing impatient"
Certainly, madame, in just one mo-
ment," said Latournclle, feeling with
his foot for his slipper, aud so recon-
mencing the remarkable jig executed by
the general few momentsbef Now
the other players laughed outright
which they had not dared TO do the first
| time. And the mistress of tho house
stood there, surprised ut being kept
waiting SO long and wondering how
much longer her escort would keep her
in that attitude. Impatient ladies came
in shoals 60 add their solicitations TO
| those of their hostess.
Our young man positively had to get
out of the predicament some how. He
did get ont of it, but with only one shoe,
| for he also had stopped down and dis
covered the disappearance of the mis-
guided slipper, and he marveled in deep
anxiety how he was going to explain such
state of affairs.
His one shod foot provoked general
hilarity, then delighted applause and
cries of Its trick! It's some trickl''
The petted darling of the ladies smiled
weak smile aud stammered:
"Yes, ladies, it is n trick"
Applause, accompanied by n general
clapping Of hands, greeted this an
nouncement, while Latournelle kept say
ing to himself:
"Oh, yes, it's a great trick, but some
one has played it on me, and don't find
it so very funny. II l only knew who it
was"-then, struck with an idea: "Heav-
ensl II it could be the general-his sin
gular performance just now-and saw
him stoop down-if it was really he, it
would be u pretty uncomfortable joke on
me. How can l make surc;'
AS he escorted the lady through the
room he tried to get near the general.
He managed to do so, and with the back
of his hand he cautiously knocked
against the pocket Of the generals coat
which he suspected contained the slip
per. There was nothing there! He tried
to sound the other pocket, hut slight
move on the generals part carried him
out of reach. To touch it, 1t was neces-
sary to pass around ON the side whero it
was.
"Where in the world are you taking
me?" demanded the lady on his arm.
"Why--er--to the head of the room"
and as he was now on the right side of
the general he wanted to try the other
pocket. Here was q new obstacle that
he had not foreseen. The fact that the
lady had the arm nearest the general
made any attempt at exploration impos-
| ell off ln OIL ha
text of an old wound which was paining
him and was able mt last to repeat his
former tactics. This time he was salts
fed. Its there!' he murmurod, and he
did not enjoy the reelection that the hus-
band of his adored one had discovered
his maneuvers under the table.
"Well, I'm in pretty mess" he con-
cluded.
Everybody had crowded into the room,
there was an expectant hush, and all
were on tiptoe for the promised trick.
There was no way TO retreat.
Here goes" said the imprudent lover.
81 must take the plunge, come what
may" And he plunged.
Ladies'" he said, 81 have lost my slip
per. l have not got it concealed about
my person; my pockets are empty"-he
turned them inside out-"nor is it in my
coat"-he heidi topen-'nor in my waist
coat"-he unbuttoned it-"nor in my
sleeves'--and he turned them up to his
elbows. "You see, ladies, have moth
ing in my hands or my pockets. I must
find out, then, where the lost article is.
Nothing is more simple. have only to
make slight cabalistic calculation"
With this he covered his face with his
hands and assumed an attitude of pro-
found cogitation. Then, without re-
moving his hands, he counted Zone,
two, three, four, five. My slipper" he
cried, sis in the left pocket of the sixth
person to my right"
This person was tho general.
"Not badr' the latter exclaimed un-
der his breath, and in obedience to the
universal cries of SEARCH yourself,