The Press., 1899-05-18

and medicine .. know l only bought mine a week ago. l presume it is the newest style. and William has none yet He means to get a cheaper one So today. while 1 was in the office, in walked an old man--a veritable old gentleman
 '' Sir, says he, I am d man who does not find himself getting on well and am forced to try going a about among the gentlemen. l am a tailor I have made an expensive overcoat for d gen tleman. Ten pounds was the price, and he did not pay me. So when he had it on his back one day said, Sir, pay me And he said "You wait until I am ready.
 "'Very well. sir. I will wait. But I see there is a button loose I will fasten it for you. 1 have silk and needle here
 "'Ah, said he, just like you to leave it that way. and off comes the coat.
 "'You shall have it again the next day after never, said I. So away l walked. I would sell it for e6 which is very cheap.
 ''I looked at the coat. which he un- folded from paper.
 Guess it will fit my son, said l I'll try it on. and we'll see.
 ''So it did
 Then, said I, now, you see I do this to make up to you, as far as I can for that other fellow s rascality "'You are an honest gentleman. said he, and I will repay you by great bargain. 1 must sell my solid sill yer spoons 1 meant to melt them, not to expose my poverty, but you shall have the whole dozen for the trife of 92
 Well, of course, I jumped at that Mir. Christy here laid the spoons on the table-''and took out e1O
 But he had something else which he took from under his arm.
 My wife is trying to sell her shawl he said.
 Well, looked at the shawl he shook out of it's folds
 "'You shall have it for e1, as sam pie of my generosity. he said, with tear in his eye
 Well, I knew you'd like it, my dear. It looks like one I used to admire you in when I courted yOu-red center, cashmere border" and MT. Christy shook out the folds-the old shawl Mrs | Christy had exchanged for the vases | that morning. She knew that at once -she could not mistake it. But as she looked at her husband. beaming and | twlnkling with good humor, she could not bear to utter the truth outright and tell how completely he had been | taken in.
 ''Six pounds for the coat and @ for the spoons, he said merrily, land e1 for the shawl. and this ''-holding out e1 note-''is all I have out of my e1O motel Poor old fellowl The last pound he had in the world, he said Hellol What is this? ?'' MT. Christy put on his glasses and looked at the note "Your name is written on it in red ink, my dear-'C Caroline Christy. An This is counterfeit Why. what in all the world'-
 "Ohl" cried William. at this mo- ment entering the door. 'That's the note mother took long while ago-a counterfeit "
 ''And it has come back to me, said MT, Christy. "You never passed it. Caroline Perhaps some servant took it. What fool l was not to put on my glasses when the man gave it to mel
 I've both need spectacles. " said Mrs Christy, My dear. neither of us can laugh at the other We are both com pletely sold. And when she had told her story it became very plain to all of them that the peddler who had stolen the coat, spoons and the counterfeit note from Mrs. Christy had by chance entered Mir. Christy' office in his busi- ness travels that he had sold him back his own stolen coat and his own plated spoons under the guise of wonderful bargain in solid silver
 Happily the Christy family were tol- erably well off and could afford to laugh at the farce they had taken so promi- nent part in, and Mrs. Christy declared she was glad to recover the shawl that her husband remembered her wearing during the happy period of their court ship days.
 A member of the police force called shortly after to state that the thief could not be traced and was no doubt a very cunning fellow. But the Christy family did not confde their joke to the worthy officer They had the wisdom to keep it in the family London Spare Moments