The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-11-28
AT NUMBER SIX.

1T never is-but that ridiculous mix.
ing. So Smith-he was q commercial
traveller, returning to Pentonville at.
ter fortnight's absence-argued with
himself.
That sherry at Thetford would quar-
rell with the brandy and water al
Grantham. and the bitter beer and
Irish whiskey at Peterboro and the
glass or two Of stout with a nip Of gin
on reaching town. Perhaps the con-
tents of his own flask and bad cigar
on the road might have helped. but GER
tainly when he reached his own house
he had to steady himself against the
lamppost before darting in.
"She isn't there" he muttered, leok.
ing up at the lighted window of the
little drawing room. which at the mo-
ment showed several figures in sill
houette. well. I'm hanged II she
isn't enjoying herself in the midst Of
a madding crowd in her husbands alb
sence."
With a sputtering vesuvian Mr..
Smith made certain Of the brass num-
Der.
No. 6 1t was.
A mixture Of liquor always makes
a key turn rather hard, but at length
Smith got the door open.
Cautiously, like an inebrlated bur-
glar, he entered and topped into q
chair in the lobby. He would get his
boots OF and steal quietly up to bed.
He wrestled with them and con-
Quered, and sneaking along in his
stockings was supporting himself by
the balusters on the second step of the
stairs. when the creak of an opening
door sent him up at headlong STUN
Bile.
He could hear . voice-his wife's,
he thought-complaining Of the heat,
and deep bass tones in reply.
"Hot!" echoed Smith, on the land
ing above. Pretty cool l should call
it, that sort Of thing, when mans
away. Who's that bassoon she's talk
ing to, l should like to known"
He was getting angry.
A chill gust Of night air came UP the
stairs.
"Holloa, they've opened the door at
the back!"
Smith was rapidly SOLDERING.
They're going out into the garden.
What shall do?"
He paused a moment, bemusedly
considering. Then:
Hang me. II I'll have my wife per-
ambulating by moonlight with bass
VOL! Perfect stranger to me. I'll
swear!"
Smith had gone upstairs lamb-he
went down a lion. He flung aside his
boots and his fear Of detection togeth-
or, and descended. There, as he had
guessed, was the open door. and on the
moonlit sward beyond he could see
1t was caution to gardeners to see
Septimus Smith get over that some
what limited lawn In his stockings.
Like an oversrown Puck, he tripped
across nower-bed and dewy grass. His
unshod feet made no sound, and his
wife and her companion talked on I'M
their backs turned to-
ward him.
What ought the back of an enemy
to suggest to brave MANI" the jeal-
GUS Smith asked himself. ITO me 1t
desire for boots. However,
here goes!"
With this he poised himself, and de-
livered the most emphatic kick he
could under the circumstances.
A man can but do his best. The
well-meaning Smith did that-and he
got his reward. The bass-yoiced
stranger turned on the instant; and
as he did so our Commercial" saw
more stars than were ever beheld Of
astronomer. About the same time he
sat down with commendable prompti-
tude on the wet grass.
The lady gave a little scream, and
Smith, as he took his astronomical OBJ
heard her cry:
Good gracious, Tom, it's surely lit
lie Mr.. Smith Of No. 81"
"And pray, what does little Mr..
Smith of No. 6 mean by forcing his
way into No. 9 and kicking me?" ask
I'd the stalwart Tom.
Smith rose painfully. He felt that
he had made some horrible blunder.
''If this isn't No. g." he said meekly,
I must be wretched, dwelling luna
ic, and authorize you to lock me up
n the nearest asylum, Miss Oakley"
20, that miserable NUMBER" she
laid. "I-told papa yesterday that
something unpleasant would come of
t II 1t wasn't looked to-"
She fluttered on before them to the
louise, the scarlet ribbons that had de-
eived poor Smith all a-wave.
Come, both Of you." she said. I'm
hree minutes I'll make you apologize
o one another for your rudeness."
As Smith again looked at that I'M
lucky brass numeral-this time with
ober eyes-a light dawned upon him.
by Jove!" he calculated. "Its as
lear as glass to me now. The top
crew Of the has come out, and the
orrid figure has reversed itself into q
!"
"Of course" smiled Miss Oakley;
and now perhaps you'll shake hands
Nth my brother Tom, who's only just
ONE home from America-and-and
ell us why you kicked him."
Poor Smith blushed like a bashful
eetroot and looked very uncomforta-
lie as he told the story Of his little
listake.
Ten minutes afterward, as he stood
n the step of the veritable No. 6, he
aised his hand to the calm night sky
nd registered couple of vows-flrst,
} quit terrace where the houses
ere all alike and the locks were SEEM
Ugly the same; and, secondly, thence
nth to avoid mixing his liquors.
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