The record-union., 1898-09-05

| relates, a more picturesque or unusual
party probably never surrounded the
mahogany Gin this case doubtless an
array of deal boards and packing
cases), for among the four and twenty
scons of wealthy Colonial houses who
were present there was not one who
could boast a whole pair Of trousers.
REALLY A CLEVER WOMAN.
Surprised Jacktby Cutting Her Va
cation Short
A young Washington man whose wife
went away for the summer a couple Of
weeks ago was having a little fun up
at his home on Seventeenth street last
Friday night that is, he had three of
his downtown chums with him in the
dining-room, and they were playing a
bit Of a game of-well, there were chips
on the table, but some people use chips
for counters in playing euchre. The
four men were in their shirtsleeves,
and each of 'em got up occasionally
and made trip to the sideboard, where
there was a ginger pop bottle or two
and some sandwiches and that sort of
thing. They were getting along first
| TdlG, WH6H lUcTG was a lOuQ ring al Tie
front doorbell.
'The house is pinched,'' said all hands
in a chorus, perking up their ears.
The young married man looked 4 bit
puzzled
Il wonder who the dickens it is?''
said he. I've got a good mind to let
'em ring. It's dark in the front of the
house, and they'll think there's nobody
at home. What do you say, fellows?'
May be a telegram" said one of
them
That's so,' said the young married
man, and he went to the door. Then
the three young fellows in the dining
room heard this:
Hello, Jack, dear! Surprised to see
me, you lovely old thing! Queer
osculatory noises.) But I was so wor-
ried, Jack, about the way things were
running, and I was afraid old Nam Sue
mightnt be giving you enough to eat.
And / just wanted to see you, anyhow,
and your letter telling me that you
couldn't see me over Sunday just made
me blue, and so I just came, SO there,
and no scolding! I'm going back to-
morrow"
"Tickled to death to see you, Toots," !"
said Jack MAKE yourself at home.
Take off your things. Might as well
stay awhile. o. I say, Toots, there's
some fellows back in the dining-room
Jim and Bill and Tom. Just happened
in in a bunch to see me. Thought I
might be lonesome, I guess. Come on
back and see EN-"
"Of course I will, the dear, good
natured things, to come and see you
when you're lonesome" and then the
young married man and his wife sailed
aft to the dining-room. All vestiges Of
the euchre game had disappeared. SO
had the bottles Of ginger pop.
CAS- I was saying" said Bill to Tom,
when the young husband and wife came
into the room, "the Investments all
right from the standpoint Of security,
but a man ought to be able to get more
than B per cent for his money now
adays. There are a lot of good things
why, Mrs. Jobson, you back? How do
you do? Come back to surprise Jack?
Well, Jacks in luck; that's all I've got
| to say"
And all three of the boys paid their
devoirs to Jacks wife, who knew about
eleven times more than any of them
thought she did. She sat down and
listened to the talk of the four men
very heavy business talk 1t was-for a
couple Of minutes, and then she went
upstairs and dug out a few packs Of
cards.
Il should think you boys would like
to play cards to pass away the time"
said she. tripping back into the room.
Would be a good scheme, wouldn't
1t, fellows?" said Jack
And I've always been just crazy to
learn how to play poker, too," said the
pretty young matron. "Why not teach
me now?"
Bully good idea" chorused the three
pals Of the young married man.
This is how the game happened to ne
resumed.
Jack" said Mrs Jack, after the
| game had gone on, with herself as a.
comfortable winner - this always hap
pens-for awhile, "did old Nam Sue put
| anything cold to eat and drink In the
refrigerator before she went away this
afternoon?"
, Believe there is something or other
on ice," said Jack, and his three pals
didn't crack grin when they all
caught his eye at once Neither did
Mrs Jack 'let on that she saw the
empty bottles and sandwiches sticking
out Of the repositories where the chums
Of her husband had slowed them. An
other feed" appeared on the sideboard
just like the one that had been secreted
by the pals. The game went on until
about 11:3O o'clock, the regular break
ing up time, anyhow, and all hands
quitting even, which doesn't often hap
pen in poker game.
Thought we'd get 1t in the neck
when heard Jacks wife's voice, didn't
you, fellows?" asked one Of them on the
way home.
II was hunting for the tall cactus, all
right" replied one.
II had the back door all measured"
said the other.
Say" one of them remarked, after a
little silence, Jacks wife's the real
thing, isn't she? If I could get hold of
one like that 'ud marry me I'd get
| spliced tomorrow morning before
| breakfast; wouldn't you, fellows?'
"In a minute" said the other two.
| "I'll bet those fellows are praising
| you for not turning em out of DOORS -
said Jack to his wife, after the boys
| had left.
What for?' she asked
But Jack let it go at that-Washing
ton Star.