The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-06-23

aA dollar and a quarter, please
Mrs. wilkins replied, tearing a cou-
pom out Of her book, and then you
send in to the address in the corner
with a quarter and you'll get a book
and then have a lovely silk skirt
any color, o@eTise, blue, purple, green
or black-for a quarter"
The grocer had to attend to the
complaint Of an old lady, who said
that his last mackerel was even
stronger than the butter he sent her
with it, 50 he put the coupon in his
pocketbook and said he would study
it out when he had more time. Mrs.
Wilkins went on to the meat market.
After she had selected rib roast and
some sweetbreads she asked the
butcher if he wouldn't like a per-
fectly lovely silk pettiooat. When he
seemed astonished at her question she
explained that it would make a nice
gift for some woman if he had no
wife Of his own, and that she was sell
ing coupons. "Well don't care if j
do have a try, seeing it's you, Mrs.
Wilkins" he said, CALAMITY. Hepaid
over his $1.25. Mrs. Wilkins gave
him a coupon, and made a long il not
lucid explanation Of the endless chain
system. 81 do hope you'll like your
skirt, Mr.. Quirk," she said, as she
turned to leave. he looked after her,
his eyes flmy with his attempt to un-
derstand. eff I send in for a coupon
book and send $1.25 and then sell
five coupons for a quarter and getfve
other people to buy coupon books for
a quarter, then I get a beautiful silk
skirt for a quarter" he murmured,
brokenly. ''Well, I will be dogoned
if see how I'll do it without landin'
me in the detention hospitall'
Mrs. Wilkins went home much ex-
hilarated by the success of the morn
ing. She felt of the $3.50 snugly laid
away in her pocketbook and smiled to
herself. 81 believe I'll just ask all
men," she said, "for probably nobody
else will think Of it, and they'll be
glad to get the skirts for their women
relatives"
The next afternoon she VENT to her
dentist to have a tooth filled. She
sold acoupon to him and received his
$1.25-Mrs. Wilkins did her business
on a strictly cash basis. She ex-
planned how he could get the petit.
coat. cts very simple" she said.
The dentist shufaed about uneasily
and said: eyes" He was a timid
man, and he was afraid that Mrs. vii.
hns would think him a stupid one il
he asked her to explain her explana.
ton. He hoped, too, that he would
get light on the subject Of how hi
was to obtain the skirt for rs cent,
when he had time ostudy the coupon
in his possession.
Mrs. Wilkins disposed of her last
1.-TWO coupons by a brilliant stroke o.
diplomacy. Herbert Candee and L
Murphy Sanger are both in love witt
her cousin Josephine, who lives ovel
on California avenue. 1t CHANGED
that on the evening Mrs. Wilkins wen
over to interest her cousin in the
silk petticoat scheme the two youns
men were glazing at each other in thc
front parlor while they waited fo1
Josephine to come in. Mrs. Wilkin
approached Candee first about buy
ing a coupon. He, of course, wa.
anxious to ingratiate himself with hi
adored ones family, so he prompt,
banded over $1.25 and received hi
coupon. L. Murphy Sanger was no
to be outdone by a rival, so he begged
the privilege of buying Mrs. Wilkins
last coupon. She explained to then
:, the system and the two young mel
listened with smiles which the,
meant to be intelligent. 'Now, b
sure to write at once for your coupon
|, books" she said, at parting,
The next morning she told Mrs
Daniels that she expected her silk pet
ticoat within the week, as she har
sold all her coupons to reliable par
/, ties. But the week went by and tn
/ next without result. Then Mrs. vii
kins grew impatient, and wrote t
the man who held one end Of the end
> less chain. He replied that three o
her coupon buyers had not sent i
for new books. So Mrs Wilkins mad
a round Of her victims and discoy
cred that the grocer, the butcher an.
! i. Murphy Sanger had neglected thi
! important part Of the deal. "You,
never get those petticoats Of your