The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-19
A Double Deal.

with those extremely pretty vases, Mrs.
Christy felt that they We're the very things
SO, instead of saying mo- when he politely
requested her to see if she had any "old
clothes to change for some splendid vases"
she allowed him to come in and sit down
While she went upstairs to rummage and
came down with some old garments of her
husbands and shawl of her own, which
certainly she never could wear again, unless
1t was at night, for it was a fashion which
went out before she was married.
1t came to her mind that she was foolish
70 leave a stranger alone so long, but the
OLD man was sitting quietly where she had
left him, and looked so much like a benevo-
lent old patriarch that she was ashamed of
remembering that the spoons were in the
3 pantry and the pantry unlocked However
he was quite worldly enough to drive a hard
bargain, and to the coat, vest and shawl
she had to add gown that might very well
have been worn often again
However, it was not ready money and she
Ielt that the vases-good limitations of very
costly ones-were lovely. She carried them
into her spare room and they made the man
telpiece quite a different thing Returning
10 the d1ning-room, however, shock awaited
her. Her husbands overcoat which he had
unWisey left at home that day, because it
was unusually warm, was gone from its neg
on the hall rack and, opening the pantry
door, she saw that the spoons were gone with
1t. They were only plated, but no one likes
to lose anything i'll that way. Besides she
felt greatly to blame for it,
The old man had been gone a long while.
ana though she sent a messenger for a po-
nee ofhcer, he gave no hope of catching the
thlef or OF getting the things back
Was there nothing else gomez" the, man
asked.
Mrs Christy looked about her. and discov-
cred one thing more7-a forged e1 note. She
had it given to hersbys sufr1e one a yea -brfore
and she found thatsit was worthless, and had
VIZ Wftten across the back This is counter
felt, and added her name, and Somehow she
Kept it in her work basket.
The old man had spied it with glistening
black eyes and had helped himself to it.
,5, Al al events, he can't pass it, laughed
MRS. Chrlsty. L feel a little consoled when
remember how provoked he will be-
ne IL pass 1t somehoW,' said the policeman
as ne walked away, promising to report the
LIN
Mrs. Christy as she remembered that tho
oVercoat that had been stolen was worth e8
ana the plated spoons at least 81 found it
necessary to go to her own room and have a
goo cry. 1t was not so much the value of
the lost articles as the feeling that it was her
IauiI ana that her husband might possibly
s iar forget hlmsef as to tell her So AT all
eVeHls' she would lose a little of that fine
cnafacter Ior good sense with which to her
great satisfaction, he had endowed her.
me Jay old not pass very pleasantly Call
ers came and she could not help telling her
story, out 1t was joke to the best-inten-
TONED among them, and, as the dinner how
away. ~ 1A1iiiis
However, Of course, she was Obliged TO stov
aer ,aaughters were paying visit to some
COUSIN, ana there was no one else to preside
a. taple. Besides, she could only have mt off
Tue evll moment She went upstairs and got
OUT some spoons she kept in reserve and
Walted 1or the impending moment She honed
that ner husband would at least be in eood
humor, and not as when things went uyrona
with him. little cross "AoHs
MT Cnr1sty, however, returned that evan-
ing IN high good humor. Moreover he haa
an overcoat upon his arm Could If he 49,
ne mad come back for it, after all and To
thelt mao peen limited to the spoons and the
counterfeit bank note? no Lie
tnought you went without your coo+ .,
she SAID, with a little rejoiceful lean of H.
heart as she seemed to recognize the ear
ment by its form and color. gar
But Mr. Christy laughed
80 dlo,- he said, so 1 did. No this is q
VeW coat: l bought it for William. MY son
Wllllam IS as tall as I am and nearly &C
stout, and this fits me snugly-snugly. cam as
across II IN queer way. 1t is quite a bar
gain You see, it looks entirely new,
Yes, it certainly does" said Mrs Cbr;s+,,.
and exactly like yours, too, dear. Aren't Won
jestjng?" - Sou
No no, no." said her spouse. you know
only bought mine week ago. presume
II IS the newest style, and William has none
yet He means to get a cheaper one So 70
gay, Whlie was in the Office in walked an
ola mana Veritable old gentleman
SH' says ne; 1 am man who does not
mo hlmsef getting on we'll, and am forced
TO try going about among the gentlemen. T
am d tabor. 1 nave made an expensive over
coat Ior a gentleman. Ten pounds was the
price, and he did not pay me. So when he
had it on his back one day 1 said. sir nav
me- And he said, You wait until an
ready Gill
Very well, sir, I will wait. But T see
there is button loose. will fasten it for