Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-13
THE DERBY CHASE.
How the Minister Lost His HIT and
the Trouble That Ensued.


the Trouble That Ensued.
1t was an evening wedding, and the gen.
tlemens dressing room was crowded with
guests. " ner the clergyman, MIR. Grey, who
arrived rather late. was shown therein. in
stead of into the room reserved for him.
In a few moments the servant, finding
cut his mistake, conducted Mr.. Grey (wao
picked up his coat. hat and bag into the
other room. The wedding ceremony over.
the evening passed delightfully."- in the
change of friendly greetings and good
wishes. and the clergyman, being an in
tmate friend. was one of the last gentle
mer to say goodnight. He put on nis
overcGat and hat in hand reached the front
door. where he stopped I moment to again
say goodbye" before putting on his
derby To his astonishment, head, eyes and
ears were covered in an instant by a hat
several sizes too large. which had been
exchanged for the one Mr.. Grey had plac-
ed on his coat. Just then the servant came
up to say "A gentleman. who left his name
Mr.. O'Brian of 2S4 9Th street had been
unable to find his hat and been forced to
go off with so small it would not cover
his head at ALL and he would be glad to
have his own when it was found Mr..
Grey had to go to early service next
day and needed proper mead covering;
and his appearance being too conlical in
the 'head-over-ears' hat now forced upon
him. to venture into q car to reach home,
he decided to find Mr.. Brian although
ii after 10 o'clock and make an ex-
change desirable to both. So. keeping
on the darkest side of the street.-the reached
No. ISi and gently rang the bell. No an
swer. n second and more vigorous pull
caused a window to be raised quickly and
q female voice called out: Who's there.
and what's wanted?" rs Mr.: c'Brian
home yeti" said Mr.. Grey moi And ne
won't he. for no such man lives here"
came If angry torres. Pardon me. but this
is 2s4 9th street. where l was directed. is
ii not?" No: it is .S4 10th street." and
down slammed the window before Mr.. Grey
could say, excuse mo" Much discounted
he started for the next street. and again
finding 2Si rang, with the assurance of
story window. and sleepy tone inquired:
What's the matter?" Mr.. Grey raised the
hat to be able to see clearly, and politely
said: Il should like to speak to MIR.
OBrian." He does not live here, and
you should be ashamed to ring people out
of their beds at such a time of night; put
on that hat and go home and with a de-
cded bang this window went down. Thor
oughly diSheartened anG perplexed, Mr..
Grey started for a neighboring drug store
where apologiZing for his appearance and
explaining his errand. he asked to see a
directory. Yes, there was Mr.. O'Brian
on 9th street-24S. The servant had re-
Versed the numbers. Was ever man so
Cnucky in pursuit of his own property?
Where did you get that hat?" sang a voice
as MI Grey again started in quest of Mr.
o Brian. Walking rapidly he soon reached
No. 2iS but by this time SO nervous AMI
exhausted he touched the bell with trepida-
ton. although light in the hall proved
some member OF the family had not YET
retired. The door opened and he was told
Mr.. OBrian had not yet returned home"
1t was too late to await his coming, SO
leaving his address the unfortunate wearer
OF the wrong hat, with weary steps, made
his way to his own house, where his wife
wondering and worried over his non-ap-
pearance. met him at the threshold; one
look, and she burst into untrollable laugh
ter, in which Mr.. Grey was fan to Join as
he told of his chase and the results The
next morning. hunting up a discarded hat
Mr.. Grey proceeded to the church. where
he conducted the early service, while the
sexton was sent to return Mr.. O'Brian's
derby. and bring back that of Mr. Grey
The sexton was told Mr.. o Brian had lust
started to return Mr.. Grey's hat" So once
more the hats played at cross-purposes
and il was not until the sexton went again
to Mr. o Bran's that the minister's hat
was recovered. Il began to feel that hat
was 'hoodooed.' and | was doomed to roam
the city day and night in it's pursuit, while
ii kept ahead of me every time" concluded
the rector.