The Worthington advance., 1900-12-14
+ A Night. Of. Mistakes
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VOUNG Mr.. Wrinkle and his wife
had just. arrived in San FRANCISCO
from the country. After some days
: search for suitable house Mr.. Wrinkle
selected large, old. two-story build
ing standing in neglected grounds. 1t
was No. 601 Blank street. .
He contemplated opening boarding
house. Young Mrs. Wink1e thought
that a neat sign inscribed liable
Board, Home Cooking" would prove
an irresistible attraction to the home
less public. So they moved in forth
with.
That evening they felt very lonely
in the great, hollow rooms, which were
strewn with their household goods like
the debris .eft by freshet. 1t was ten
o'clock before they were able to fire up
in the stove and brew themselves cup
of tea.
"Ophelia, dear" said Mr.. Wrinkle. as
he seated himself on trunk with cup
of the mild beverage in his hand, I'VE
don't know soul in the city. and, of
course, We shall lead very quiet and
uneventful life at first. But we must
be as cheerful as possible under the
circumstances"
At that moment there was a ring at
the door bell. and Mr.. Wrinkle took the
lamp and went to the door. In few
moments he uttered such an exclama-
tion of astonishment and dismay that
his wife flew to his side in deep alarm.
Lying on the veranda close to the
door, wrapped in an old blanket, was
little baby, fast asleep.
Goodness sakes alive!" exclaimed
Mrs. Wrinkle, carefully picking up the
little stranger. "Where did it come
from, Erastus?"
''Somebody has abandoned it," said
Mr.. Winkle. GIVE heard of such things
before. Well, I suppose We'll have tc
take it in for the present"
"Of course we will" chirped Mrs.
Wrinkle. 1.-THE sweet little wootsy-
tootsy. It's fast asleep"
She cuddled it in her arms and car
ried it in, and Mr.. Wrinkle followed,
feeling rather pleased than otherwise.
Mrs. Wrinkle carefully laid it on a pile
of loose bedding and ran to look at it
every two minutes. Mr.. Wrinkle cheer
fully continued his task of arranging
the furniture.
There was another emphatic ring at
the bell, and Mr.. Wrinkle uneasily hur-
ried to the door. A very tall man in liv-
cry stood there with a huge basket on
his arm.
"Mrs. Travers sends this basket to
you with her best wishes, She's just
got back from the east, and she wants
you to know that she. hasn't forgot
you," recited the man, lowering his
burden and setting it inside the door,
"There must be some mistake, sir"
replied Mr.. Wrinkle. "I'm not acquaint-
cd with Mrs. Travers."
,"Perhaps you amt, but there's no
mistake" said the man. "This is No.
COL, and 1 s'pose Mrs. Travers knows
what she's about. I'm her footman,
my name is Shafto and I obey orders,
that's all. Good evening, SIR"
The giant footman departed, and Mr..
anflMrs.$ Wrinkle peeped under the white
cloth that covered the basket. It
seemed to be full of cakes, jellies, sweet
meats and de,icacies of every sort.
"There. must be some mistake about
it, gasped Mr.. Wrinkle. "Why didn't
ask him where Mrs. Travers lives =?
However, we will not touch it, of
course. The matter will be explained
tomorrow, no doubt" 81
Shafto, the footman, went ponder
ously down the street. Under a corner
lamp he came upon Is men, evidently
a brass band, as they all carried in
struments. The leader was anxiously
searching in his pockets.
"What the devil was that number ?'
he growled.> IT'S lucky the, young fel-
low wrote it down for me. I've got it
here somewhere. O, here it isl and he
produced crumpled bit Of paper. 1901.
That's the number plain enough, but
that chap is an awful poor writer. Let's
see, we're all here except bass drum
and cymbals. Potts is working over in
Oakland, but I sent him the number. 20
Iguess he'll find us all right. Come on.
boys. The young fellow said he'd be
waiting for us at the place."
"Are you going to 601 on this street p
asked Shafto, who had never got over
his boyisk admiration for a, brass
band. 1--WE just come from there. IN
go with you and show you the place and
hold your torch for YOU = szs !. .'.. s.ss
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