The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-26

Dick in desperation. my sister has .
| pair of squeaky shoes and walks that
way to keep them from making a noise.
| Now did you know that?"
Slmms stared vacantly into space, I'M
able to reason from this new standpoint.
He ran his fingers through his hair and
paced up and down the room two or three
times. then suddenly stopped before his
| friend.
"squeaky shoes may explain her COM
| Ing UP stairs so slowly, but they don't
| explain the way she crosfes her feet !:
| they don't explain that night In the hail
| when Mabel took off her rubbers, and the
next morning when met her on the stairs
pale and SICK they don't explain why she
used to dance and skate. but does so no
more"
| A little of Sdmms' old positiveness re-
turned as he repeated his undeniable evil
dence.
My friend, will you please tell me what
| you think is the matter with my sister?'
Dick asked calmly.
| Dick, hasn't your sister an artificial
limb7" Simms did not look at his friend
as he said this; he looked out of the
window.
Dick laughed, loud and uproarousIy,
much to Simms' discomfort.
Then he explained that his sister, who
had horror of squeaky shoes. had
| bought a pair that squeaked She did
everything she could to stop II, but still
they made an unpleasant noise when she
| walked. She purchased another pair and
| to her CONSERVATION, they squeaked also.
In her anxiety 70 keep this humillating
| fact to herself, she walked peculiar, and
came up stairs "one step at time" as
Dick termed 1t. She occasionally wears
slippers In the evening and then. and only
| then, she appears natural" he added
Slmms thought of the evening when
Jenkins had visited him and they heard
someone run lightly up stairs.
But that night in the hall?" he ques-
| toned.
THAT must have been the night she
had the pleurisy," answered Dick. "She
went with Mabel TO the theater. and on
the way home was taken with the pleu-
risy and, although she did not tell me
So 1t is more than likely that Mabel re-
moved her rubbers. Aunt is a good nurse
and next morning sister was up and
around, but pale and sick, as you said
'In regard to the skating and dancing
| evidence" continued Dick, she used to
dance and was learning to skate when
she came up here with aunt. since then
she has been attending closely to busi-
| ness, and being a stranger, goes out but
| little"
Dick, have been - fool" said
| simms, with the ghost OF a smile.
mo, Simms, don't call yourself that
as we are indebted TO you for so rich a
Joke"
"We7 Dick, ! beg OF you DO not re-
peat this 20 your sister"
20. yes. I'll tell her and aunt BOTH"
demonstrated Dick.
mo, 1 would rather you would not.
for you SEE"
"Well2" questioned Dick. after a pause.
1.-THE fact is Dick" Simms admitted,
81 love your sister, and would not like
to have this little mistake cause any trou-
bic between US, as II might do. IL she
knew It."
Dick was silent.
II would rather you would not tell her."
Bimms repeated
"Wel, / won't. on one condition" an
swered Dick. And that Is, that you
won't say a word 10 her after you are
married, but will allow me to tell ner
and aunt In your presence"
Agreed" said Simms.
That Is. OF course, IL she will have
you" added Dick.
II was not many months afterward
that Dick had the opportunity to tell
his Joke. And Mr. Slmms did not have
10 shave of his mustache.