The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-08-12
STORY OF A POTATO.


denly one of the potatoes slipped
through her fingers, dropped over the
edge of the window.sill and disap-
peared into space. II fell with bang
upon gentleman who was passing
beneath, and made deep dent in his
elegant silk hat.
This gentleman, who had only Just
been to pay bill at his hatter's, was
seized with sudden and uncomfortable
fury.
He glanced up at the house, and,
seeing n window on the fifth story
shut down hurriedly with n bang, he
forgot everything in his rage and made
a rush for the front door, opened it,
tore through il and ran precipitately
upstairs, with no other intention than
making the guilty person suffer for
his clumsiness.
1t took him but two seconds to reach
the landing on the second floor, when
door suddenly opened and person
rushed out in a great hurry and fell
heavily into his arms.
The two men eyed each other for
moment with angry and astonished
looks, ready to abuse each other. when
both simultaneously uttered au ex-
clamation OF surprise.
"Anatole"
"Edgarl"
Anatole Bandruche and Edgar
Bricheton were two old college
chums. They had not met since the
day when they took their bachelor of
arts degree together twelve years be-
fore. In spite of this long interval in
their intercourse they found on the
occasion of this sudden meeting that
they had very little ready change of
conversation. Edgar was the first to
speak.
''Say your hat looks very pretty"
he said.
"Do not speak of it. 1t has just
served as target for potato that
fell from the fifth story"
Sand now you are going upstairs
to restore the potato to its owner?
That's very nice of you."
''Not by any means. I'm going to
charge the clumsy chap with his crime
try to make him pay for new hat. +"
"Well, 80 far as that is concerned
you might as we'll tackle a corpse"
"And why, If you please?"
because old Bdoche is an old
hedgehog who will kick you down
stairs, even if he opens the door for
you at ALL"
"Old Bidoche?"
"Yes, the man you are after, for it
can be no other than he. All the ten
ants in the building are always having
trouble with him. One might think
that he made point of being as dis.
agreeable to every one as he possibly
can"
Then do you live in this housep"
mo, but an aunt Of mine does, and
scarcely day passes without her hav-
ing scrap with old Bidoche. II you
will allow me, l will go up with you;
two heads are better than one in q
matter like this"
So Edgar and Anatole went up three
flights together and stopped outside
door through which came softly the
sounds of melodious musical instru-
ment.
"This is the room." said Edgar.
'He's practising on his bassoon."
With these words he pulled the bell
and the bassoon suddenly ceased.
Then the shuffiing of feet was heard
along the floor, the door opened and
there, framed in the doorway, stood
little old man, with benevolent.
smiling facc and large.sized bassoo on
resting across one arm.
''What do the gentlemen desire!"
asked the little old man.
IN. Bidoche," replied Edgar.
"Yes, the wretched Bidoche,"
added Anatole, shaking his ruined
hat in one hand, and with the other
placing the potato on the tip OF the
musicians nose.
IN. Bidoche?" replied the old man
politely. II do not know him. !
never heard Of him.