The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-05-24

10 MIN tuell IllaI IL WAS uiS uuIy W lc'
Mrs. Keister know something about
the same instant he wondered what
kind OF '.job'' he could "put up on
his old friend. That was keister's s
weakness In the old days he had
been famous for his practical jokes,
and it gratified him to think that
Nicoll rccollected it. This should have
filled him with shame, however, for
they had been very dreary practical
jokes, and still were dreary.
Suddenly he began to chuckle. An
idea had come to him. He walked
over to the telephone and called up his
house.
"Oh, its you, Polly he said, when
his wife answered. See here; I've
invited Nicoll over to dinner tonight,
and he'll stay with us for awhile.
Why, you know. Nicoll. N--c-o-ll.
Did you get it? Bertie Nicoll, who
used to train with Billy Stokes and me
and, by the way, I've asked Billy
down, too. I'm not giggling. Say,
Polly. . Well, I'll tell you if you'll
wait minute. No, you needn't 60 to
any particular trouble, only Id like to
have things nice, Of course. No, Billy
won't stay. =. . Why, this is what l
wanted to say: I'm going to tell Nick
that you have been called away, and
when we come you put on one Of the
girls dresses and aprons and play
maid. Why, for joke, Of course.
-. No, don't suppose You do; it's
hard sometimes to make you see any
thing. No, you do that, Polly, just to
please me. Well let things develop
themselves, and we'll have a whole lot
of fun out of it. You tell the kids not
to call you mamma or give the thing
away, and I'll put Billy next"
uaI WAS Tue SuUSIdIlCc VI IIlc COL-
versation. 1t happens, unfortunately:
that Mrs. Keister really thinks her
husband funny at times, and she
weakly consented to the deception.
When Stokes came around Keister
gleefully informed him of the joke that
he was going to play on Nicoll, but
Stokes somehow failed to see the point
of the thing. Keister was rather an
noyed about it, but he said he would
carry it out, anyway. "Of course, l
don't know exactly what turn the stu
alton will take,' he said, "but it will
be funny situation and anybody but
chump could get fun out of it. I'll
bet you will"
"Just as you say" said Stokes.
"1'll keep my mouth shut"
1t was very smart and pretty maid
that opened the door for the three
friends at the Keister house. Her
gown was little too loose fitting. but
it could be seen that her figure was
trim, and her rosy cheeks and bright
eyes, to say nothing of the smile with
which she welcomed the head of the
aforesaid house, might almost have
excused him for chucking her under
the chin-which lie did. Nicoll coughed
and Stokes looked mildly shocked.
$50 your mistress is away, Katie?"
said the unabashed keister.
eyes, sir" answered the maid, who,
to do her justice, did seem:a little en-
barrassed.
"Well, come into the library, boys,
and make yourselves at home," said
keister, Hospitality. We'll have din
ner on in a few minutes, more or less.
You'll excuse me just a few minutes"
They excused him and he went
away. When he came back Nicoll and
Stokes were talking in an animated
way about certain night, and he
Joined in the conversation with great
gusto.
"By the way said Nicoll, suddenly
breaking off in the middle Of a remin-
iscence, "that servant Of yours is
peach, keister."
"Think so?" said keister, winkiny
at Stokes.
81 should say so,' said Nicoll, warm
ly. "Pretty as a picture, and she
looks so refined and. But, keister,
old man, you ought to-well--'
''Weli, what?'
"Well, you ought to remember that
you are married man and it isn't
right to take advantage of her position
and-l don't think that she liked that
lutte familiarity of yours. Tell me
something about her. Where did she
come from! She isn't any ordinary
girl.
"1ou seem interested said keister,
rather suspiciously.
Il am" answered Nicoll, frankly.
Il don't know when I've seen"
He stopped here, for the maid en-
a.
ready. They went in, and the maid
waited upon them deftly and neatly,
and Nicoll, it seemed to keister,
watched her graceful movements with
quite too evident admiration. kcister
tor some reason or another seemed
rather dull. His gayety was forced,
bnt he joked with Katie" neverthe-