The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-07-14

VIII OAAS SASC AAAA ttAAASs S"'AS Jo~~
see that it Is some little tiff sprung uI
since he went west. Haven't they beer
correspondence
"Constantly. But Jennie herself
seems to take it seriously; otherwise
wouldn't care one iota. Mr.. Brainerd
may go to Jericho for all l care"
But Mr.. Brainerd seemed not in the
least inclined to go in that direction
just ut that time. for as Mrs. Fisher
room with Elsie-not Jennie-Fisher OIL
his arm. Elsie had a preoccupied look
on her face-in fact. l may say, an EN-.
barrassed look. In one hand she held
a bunch Of roses. and she dropped his
arm to arrange them-as a pretense-
in a vase.
And for what now follows | have to
thank that kindly Catania palm that
sheltered Mrs. Fisher and myself from
the view of these loverlike two.
"Sit STILL" I said to Mrs. Fisher.
housekeeping is fair in n case like
this"
Though evidently not quite sure that
my casuistry was sound, Mrs. Fisher
allowed herself to be persuaded. Then
we heard a scrap of conversation.
which I am going to try to report as
closely as my memory will serve:
Elsie-Now, just listen to me for five
minutes.
Brainerd-I have come n thousand
miles for that very thing and would go
another thousand for another five min
uteS.
She-Be quiet. Just tell me, please.
what is the matter with you? You
never used to drink.
Hell do now. Didn't you see me
swallow all that Roman punch a min
ute ago?
She-Mr. Brainerd, if you're not
tipsy, you ought to be ashamed of
yourself
He-How? Do you think a man
ought to be tipsy on one tumbler Of
Roman punch?
She-I mean, If you are in your
senses, what can have made you treat
my cousin Jennie as you have?
He evidently startled)-Your cousin
Jennie? Who on earth
At this point the young lady turned
and fairly raj away, leaving Brainerd
standing alone in the middle Of the
room He seemed puzzled at some
thing. We heard him-or did, If Mrs.
Fisher did not-mutter to himself.
"I've gone and made a botch Of it, l
guess"
Then he laughed to himself.
In another minute we saw him walk
slowly out into the hall, pulling at his
mustache. Then it was time for us to
break cover. We came from behind
the palm and walked out into the hall,
where Brainerd was found arguing
with a servant about q crush hat and
overcoat.
II think you have made a mistake,
SIR" said the servant. "This Is Mr..
Barry's hat. And he pointed to the
initials III. B." inside the crown in
gilt letters.
"Oh," said Brainerd, Il see. Those
are Mr.. Barry's initials, are they?
Well, you see, it's a mistake. The fool
man who put those letters in took me
for Mr.. Barry-Harry Barry, eh? Or
he thought my first name was Harry.
Ha, ha! Here's half a dollar for you.
That's my hat all right"
"Going alreadyY said Mrs. Fisher,
standing close to his shoulder.
"Oh! he said, with a start. II didn't
know where you were. Yes. I'm afraid
I must be off. The journey has rather
knocked me out, you know. I've had a
evening Of it."
The servant stared and Mrs. Fisher
and I stared as Brainerd walk
ed hastily out through the swinging
doors.
Now, there Is a wide, covered veranda
outside the front door Of that house,
and the floor of the veranda is boarded.
That night-the house being in festival
bright light burned under the
roof Of the veranda.
Almost at the same moment that
Brainerd, in evening dress, with a cape
and a crush hat-whether his or
B~arry's-went through the swinging
doors to the veranda, Brainerd, in a
rusty tweed suit, with a golf cap and
light O%vercoat, bounded In at the
same door.
We three-Mrs. Fisher, the servant
and 1-all stared. So did half a dozen
people who stood behind US. Elsie.
who was standing talking confidential
" to her cousin Jennie, tainted, with a
scream, though Jennie, strange
to say. managed to keep perfectly cool.
MIR. Brainerd!' Mrs. Fisher almost
shrieked. You went out Of that door
a second ago!'
Jack Brainerd," I said. "you have a
DOUBLE"
He stood stock still for n moment;
mnttering 81 thought SOL" turned
and dashed out again.
In a few minutes-while we all
crowded out On the porch, most Of us